Senate Republicans delay immigration bill over $1.8 billion settlement fund

Senate Republicans convened Monday evening to address a $1.776 billion settlement fund that a federal judge temporarily halted on Friday. The measure funding immigration enforcement agencies for three years remained stalled after Democrats signaled plans to attach amendments targeting the fund.

Court order and administration response The Justice Department confirmed it would comply with U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema's two-week pause while stating it "strongly disagrees" with the ruling. A hearing is set for June 12 to consider extending the order.

Republicans said they need explicit assurances that the fund will not proceed after the deadline before moving forward on the spending bill.

" He added that the administration should decide to shut the fund down itself. " Oklahoma Senator Jim Lankford called for officials to declare they are setting the fund aside entirely. " Louisiana Senator John Kennedy noted the administration must follow the court order but warned the reconciliation bill "won't move this week" without resolution on the fund.

The dispute began when the administration announced the settlement without prior consultation with lawmakers as part of resolving a lawsuit against the IRS. Senators had already removed $1 billion in White House security funding from the immigration bill before departing for the Memorial Day recess.