House Republicans are set to vote Tuesday on a nearly $70 billion immigration enforcement package that would fund key Homeland Security agencies through the remainder of President Donald Trump's term. The legislation, which focuses solely on immigration enforcement after controversial proposals were dropped, aims to provide $38 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $26 billion for the Border Patrol, and $5 billion for unforeseen costs.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasized the urgency, stating, "We have to fund border security and immigration enforcement, and it's sad that Republicans have to do it on our own." The bill comes after a monthslong standoff that led to the longest shutdown in the Department of Homeland Security's history, triggered by Democratic opposition to immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis and other cities. Democrats had demanded reforms such as requiring agents to display ID badges and obtain judicial warrants before entering private property, but the final package includes no such conditions.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed opposition, calling the funding a "blank check" that could lead to brutality against citizens and immigrant communities. The Senate passed the bill 52-47 last week, with only Sen.
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska breaking party lines. If approved by the House, the package will go to Trump for signature, ensuring uninterrupted funding for his deportation agenda through 2029.
The funding builds on nearly $140 billion already allocated to ICE and Customs and Border Protection last year. The administration, now led by new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, faces pressure to deliver on Trump's promise of the largest deportation operation in U.S.
history, though it has not yet reached its goal of 1 million deportations annually. Republicans have a narrow margin in the House, with only a few votes to spare, and leadership delayed the vote to avoid complications.
Democrats criticized the department for using resources on private jets and poor detention conditions, while Republicans defended the bill as essential for public safety.