Senate Republicans have unveiled a $72 billion reconciliation package with money for ICE, Border Patrol and President Donald Trump’s controversial White House ballroom project.
The Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security panels each released text late Monday night covering their portions of the immigration enforcement funding proposal, a key step toward passing the measure by Trump’s June 1 deadline.
Here is the text from Judiciary and HSGAC.
Senate Republicans are using the party-line reconciliation process to overcome a Democratic filibuster of ICE and CBP funding.
Democrats blocked action on the broader Department of Homeland Security funding bill for weeks following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers in January. Then House and Senate Republicans clashed over what to include in a reconciliation package. The DHS shutdown finally ended last week after 75 days.
Here’s what’s in the GOP’s reconciliation package:
— $38.2 billion for ICE.
— $26 billion for offices under CBP. This includes $3.5 billion for border security technology and screening.
— $5 billion extra for DHS.
— $1.5 billion for the Justice Department.
— $1 billion for the Secret Service. This is “for the purposes of security adjustments and upgrades” related to Trump’s ballroom project, according to the Judiciary Committee text.
The USSS funding would cover “above-ground and below-ground security features.” The GOP text states that these funds cannot be used “for non-security elements” of the project. Republicans began pushing for ballroom-related funding in the wake of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.
Both panels generally provide the funding for FY2026 and make it available through FY2029.
Crunch time. Senate GOP leaders plan to put the reconciliation bill on the floor the week of May 18, the final week both chambers are scheduled to be in session this month. That means key Senate Republicans will likely aim to hold any markups on the reconciliation text next week.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a statement that his panel “is taking action to help provide certainty for federal law enforcement and safer streets for American families.” HSGAC Chair Rand Paul (R-Ky.) added “My committee will vote later this month to give the funding needed.”
Dems’ response. Senate Democrats are already vowing to fight the bill.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.), the top Budget Committee Democrat, said in a statement that “Senate Democrats are prepared to review this bill line by line and vigorously challenge any provision that violates the Byrd Rule.” Merkley also argued Republicans are “ignoring the needs of middle-class America,” citing high costs, while providing funding for Trump’s ballroom project, ICE and CBP.
