Congress Passes $70 Billion Immigration Enforcement Bill, Sending Measure To Trump’s Desk

Congress on Tuesday approved a $70 billion funding package for federal immigration enforcement, ending a months-long battle over financing key components of the Trump administration’s deportation and border security agenda.

The House passed the legislation in a narrow 214-212 vote largely along party lines after the Senate approved the measure last week. Rep. Kevin Kiley of California, who recently left the Republican Party and now serves as an independent, joined Democrats in opposing the bill.

The legislation now heads to President Trump for his signature.

“With today’s vote, House and Senate Republicans have officially ended the third Democrat government shutdown of this Congress,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said following passage.

“And here’s the end result of Democrats’ record-setting obstruction: CBP and ICE will now be funded for the remainder of Trump’s term and Democrats will have no ability to defund these agencies in the 119th or 120th Congresses.”

The funding measure resolves a dispute that had stretched for months after Department of Homeland Security funding lapses earlier this year. While some DHS functions received temporary support through other legislation, immigration-focused agencies continued operating amid uncertainty over long-term funding.

The Secure America Act includes more than $9.5 billion for hiring and retaining Border Patrol personnel, nearly $3.5 billion for border surveillance technology and anti-drug trafficking efforts, and almost $7.5 billion to support Homeland Security Investigations operations.

The bill also fully funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection through 2029 while providing an additional $2.5 billion for other DHS programs.

Several controversial issues complicated negotiations.

Republicans debated whether to include funding for additional security enhancements connected to Trump’s planned White House ballroom project, as well as language addressing a proposed $1.776 billion settlement fund tied to claims of government weaponization.

Neither provision ultimately made it into the final legislation.

The settlement fund had generated significant debate among Republicans after concerns emerged that individuals connected to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot could potentially qualify for compensation. The administration maintained that eligibility would not be limited to Trump supporters and could extend to any qualifying victim, including figures such as Hunter Biden.

Senate Republicans also rejected a series of amendments during a marathon late-night voting session before ultimately advancing the legislation.

Democrats had opposed earlier versions of DHS funding after fatal shootings involving federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis earlier this year. They pushed for several reforms, including expanded body-camera requirements, restrictions on officers wearing face coverings, and judicial warrant requirements for arrests.

Those proposals were not included in the final package.

Republicans argued Democrats’ opposition reflected broader disagreements over immigration policy.

“All that Democrats have achieved by their shutdown is a useful reminder to the American people of their support for open borders and keeping criminal illegal immigrants in American communities,” Johnson said.

The passage of the bill provides long-term funding certainty for the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and removes one of the most contentious spending fights on Capitol Hill heading into the final months before the midterm election season intensifies.