US House passes $70 billion bill to boost ICE, Border Patrol funding

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Washington: On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement funding package, granting President Donald Trump a significant victory and putting an end to months of legislative impasse over border security financing. The law passed by a narrow 214-212 margin, mostly along party lines, and now heads to Trump's desk for final approval.

The law provides funding for immigration enforcement agencies for three years, including approximately $38 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $26 billion for the Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection, and billions more for operational and emergency requirements till 2029. Republican senators said that the Act is vital to strengthen border security, expand detention and deportation operations, and support the administration's efforts to limit illegal immigration.

The legislation passed through the budget reconciliation procedure, which allowed Republicans to avoid a Senate filibuster and accept it without Democratic support. It follows amid a prolonged impasse between the two parties, which contributed to a partial Department of Homeland Security closure earlier this year, as Democrats demanded tougher controls and monitoring of immigration enforcement operations.

Democrats strongly opposed the bill, alleging that it gives immigration agency broad powers and extra money without adopting new accountability measures. Following recent incidents involving immigration officials, critics expressed worry about enforcement techniques and a lack of improvements. Several problematic measures, such as financing requests related to White House security enhancements and a contested ‘anti-weaponization’ fund, were either withdrawn or drastically reduced before final enactment.