Senate passes Trump’s $70 billion immigration enforcement package, doesn’t ban weaponization fund
Package funds all border enforcement operations, including border patrol and ICE agents, for the remainder of Trump's presidency.
The Senate early Friday handed President Donald Trump a significant victory, passing his $70 billion immigration enforcement package without banning a compensation fund designed to help those targeted by weaponized or politicized law-enforcement investigations.
Senators voted 52-47 in favor of the bill after a marathon all-night session of votes on amendments with Alaska's Lisa Murkowski being the only Republican to oppose it.
The package funds all border enforcement operations, including border patrol and ICE agents, for the remainder of Trump's presidency.
It now moves to the House, which is expected to vote next week.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune signaled Republicans plan to use the vote in the fall election against Democrats, who refused to provide any funding for immigration and border enforcement.
"Democrats would not agree to anything, and eventually they walked away altogether, presumably because they thought that it would serve them better to have an issue for November," Thune, R-S.D., said.