WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill providing nearly $70 billion for immigration enforcement agencies, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for his signature.
The legislation, known as the Secure America Act, allocates approximately $38 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and $26 billion to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), with an additional $5 billion for unforeseen costs, according to the White House. It passed the House on a party-line vote of 214-212 on Tuesday and follows Senate approval last week.
Republicans used the reconciliation process to advance the funding without Democratic support, bypassing the need for a supermajority in the Senate. The bill funds the agencies through fiscal year 2029, providing resources for personnel, detention, deportations, technology and border security operations.
The measure comes after months of partisan negotiations over immigration policy. Earlier this year, a government shutdown affected the Department of Homeland Security, highlighting funding disputes. Republicans described the package as essential to strengthen border security and interior enforcement during the remainder of the Trump administration.
" This bill provides funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through FY2029 for immigration enforcement and related activities," a summary of the legislation stated.
Democrats opposed the bill, arguing it represented a significant increase in enforcement spending without accompanying reforms or oversight measures. Some critics called it a "blank check" for enforcement operations.
The funding builds on prior appropriations, including a substantial allocation in the previous year. Details on specific programmatic breakdowns beyond the broad agency totals remain subject to implementation by the Department of Homeland Security.
House passage ends a 115-day standoff on the issue, according to reports. The Senate passed its version by a vote of 52-47.
As of Thursday, the bill awaited final action by the president. Trump has indicated strong support for enhanced immigration enforcement measures.
The legislation does not include certain additional policy changes sought by some lawmakers, focusing primarily on appropriations. Congressional committees drafted the package under instructions from a budget resolution passed earlier in the year.
Further details on how the funds will be allocated among specific initiatives, such as hiring additional officers or expanding detention capacity, are expected to be clarified during execution.
