Senate Republicans Advance $70B Immigration Enforcement Bill After Dropping Jan. 6 Restitution Fund

Senate Republicans began the voting process June 3 on a roughly $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill after the Justice Department halted a nearly $2 billion reserve that had divided the party. 8 billion that had been set aside in the Justice Department fund. Two weeks earlier, Senate Republicans left Washington without passing the legislation after intraparty disputes over the fund.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers during a June 2 hearing that the department would not proceed. "We are not moving forward with the fund, period," Blanche said. The fund originated as part of a settlement in a $10 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump and his two oldest sons against the IRS.

Sen. " Sen. Thom Tillis criticized the idea of compensating participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. "To provide restitution to somebody who assaulted a police officer and pled guilty to it? I’ve seen some crazy stuff before, but that’s right up there with crazy," Tillis said.

After House Speaker Mike Johnson met with President Trump, the White House backed off the fund. The Justice Department committed to following a court order halting its implementation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he believed Blanche’s assurances were sufficient.

"We have Republican senators who understand that we succeed as a team, we fail as a team," Thune said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to force a vote this week on the fund. " Procedural rules give Democrats a window to offer amendments to the budget bill that would end the fund or bar Jan.

6 participants from receiving payments. Any such amendment would require 60 votes to pass. Democrats have said they will use the Republican dispute ahead of the midterm elections. In April, Democrats offered affordability measures on which Sens.

Susan Collins of Maine and Dan Sullivan of Alaska crossed party lines.