Senate Republicans moved forward Wednesday with a major immigration enforcement funding package that had been temporarily stalled before the Memorial Day recess amid concerns over a controversial Justice Department compensation fund backed by the Trump administration.
In a party-line vote, senators advanced the legislation, which would allocate billions of dollars to strengthen operations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The vote sets the stage for up to 20 hours of Senate debate, followed by a lengthy series of amendment votes known as a “vote-a-rama.”
Despite the procedural victory, the measure still faces several hurdles before final passage.
Momentum for the bill was restored after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told a House subcommittee on Tuesday that the administration would no longer pursue the proposed “anti-weaponization fund,” which had become a major source of concern among Republican lawmakers.
“We’re not moving forward with the fund. Period,” Blanche said during the hearing.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Blanche’s public testimony helped reassure skeptical Republicans.
“I think that most of our members feel pretty satisfied with his comments, especially since they were made under oath during a public hearing,” Thune told reporters Wednesday. “For the most part, his remarks were extremely helpful.”
The controversy centered on a proposed $1.776 billion Justice Department fund intended to compensate individuals who claim they were improperly targeted by federal investigations during the Biden administration.
The proposal sparked a rare internal dispute among Senate Republicans. During a closed-door meeting two weeks ago, lawmakers pressed Blanche for details about how the fund would operate and who would qualify for compensation.
Several senators argued that the unresolved questions surrounding the program threatened to derail the party’s efforts to secure funding for immigration enforcement priorities.
Frustrated lawmakers warned they would withhold support for the broader immigration package until they received greater clarity regarding the fund’s structure and eligibility requirements.
Unable to reach a consensus before the Memorial Day break, Republican leaders postponed further action and sent senators home early to continue negotiations during the recess.
With the administration now backing away from the compensation program, Senate Republicans have resumed consideration of the immigration measure, although debate over its final provisions is expected to continue in the days ahead.
