House Adopts Blueprint To Fund ICE On Day 74 Of DHS Shutdown After Five-Hour Standoff
House Republicans narrowly pushed through a budget blueprint late Wednesday aimed at unlocking more than $70 billion in future funding for immigration enforcement, capping off a dramatic vote that remained open for over five hours amid internal GOP divisions.
The measure passed 215-211, with Kevin Kiley voting present, as Republicans worked to unify their conference after a tense standoff over spending priorities and policy disagreements.
The vote marks a key step toward funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, coming 74 days into a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security after its funding lapsed in February.
Republicans are using the Senate reconciliation process to advance the funding package, allowing them to bypass a potential filibuster from Democrats. While Democrats have supported funding for other parts of DHS, disagreements over immigration enforcement spending have prolonged the standoff.
House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled that the House plans to revise a previously passed Senate bill before bringing it to the floor, further delaying a full resolution as lawmakers prepare to leave for a two-week recess.
Tensions within the GOP nearly derailed the vote, with disputes spilling over from a broader farm bill debate. A controversial proposal to allow year-round sales of gasoline containing 15% ethanol drew opposition from some lawmakers concerned about its impact on smaller energy producers.
In the end, lawmakers agreed to separate the ethanol provision from the farm bill, clearing a path for the funding blueprint to move forward. Still, fiscal conservatives raised concerns about the lack of deeper spending cuts, while others pushed for additional provisions to be included in the final package.
The blueprint outlines up to $70 billion each for ICE and CBP, though final figures could shift as negotiations continue. President Donald Trump has set a June 1 deadline for Congress to complete the broader reconciliation package.
Meanwhile, temporary emergency funding measures are nearing their limit. According to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the department is rapidly exhausting available funds, warning that payroll obligations alone are consuming billions every two weeks.
With lawmakers set to leave Washington, the fight over fully funding DHS is expected to continue into May, leaving uncertainty around border enforcement operations and broader homeland security funding in the weeks ahead.