Senate passes $70 billion immigration enforcement bill in late-night vote
The legislation represents a broad budget reconciliation package that, if passed in the U.S. House and then signed into law, would provide funding for national immigration enforcement agencies
by Summer Lane | June 5, 2026
During a late-night voting session on Capitol Hill, lawmakers in the U.S. Senate finally voted to advance a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill that would provide key funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol for the next few years.
“This legislation ensures full uninterrupted funding for ICE, Border Patrol and the core Trump public safety mission (eg counter-cartel) for the rest of the Administration,” said Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller.
The funding is built into the $70 billion budget reconciliation package and comes after months of lawmakers’ skirmishing over funding key items of President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
According to Politico, the final vote was 52-47 and garnered just one nay vote from a single Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). The budget breakdown, per the outlet, provides about $38 billion for ICE and over $26 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), with an additional $5 billion to be used by new Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.
“We voted through the night to pass funding for ICE and border patrol,” said Sen. James Lanford (R-Okla.) on X. “Democrats put forth unnecessary votes to try to get it to fail, and even voted down two different votes on the SAVE America Act. After nearly 20 hours of voting, @SenateGOP got it done.”
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mon.) noted, “Last night, the Senate voted to fund our brave ICE agents and border patrol officers, who put their lives on the line to keep our border secure and our country safe. This has been a long time coming & I was proud to vote YES.”
Sen. Pete Rickets (R-Neb.) said after the bill’s late-night passage that he had voted against the initial bill, but did vote for the final legislation. “The initial bill only included funding for Border Patrol and ICE,” he said in a statement. “Several amendments that would not strengthen our national security were presented. I voted against those. I voted for final passage of the initial legislation, which will fund our Border Patrol and ICE. These law enforcement officers work hard to keep our nation safe and they deserve our support.”
The legislation will now head to the U.S. House of Representatives. A vote is not expected until next week, as the chamber adjourned for the weekend and is not expected to be back in session until June 8.
Photo: Adobe Stock
