The Senate is expected to move forward on June 3 with legislation that would provide funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.
The push comes after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Tuesday that the Trump administration would abandon plans for a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for individuals claiming harm by the federal government.
Blanche’s announcement appeared to clear a major obstacle for Senate Republicans, who now believe they have the votes needed to advance a narrower $72 billion reconciliation package focused on funding ICE and Border Patrol. The compensation fund had sparked strong bipartisan opposition, with several Republican senators previously signaling they would not support the legislation while the proposal remained under consideration.
On Wednesday, Senate Republicans released updated legislative text that also formally removed funding tied to President Donald Trump’s ballroom project. The bill would provide funding for ICE and Border Patrol through the end of Trump’s current term on January 20, 2029.
Republicans scheduled an initial procedural vote on the measure for approximately 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, shortly after unveiling the revised legislative language.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expressed optimism that Republicans now have enough support to advance the legislation.
“We’re hopeful,” Thune told reporters at the Capitol, adding that he’s “keeping fingers crossed.”
Thune said Blanche’s assurances “were extremely helpful.”
Still, Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said he intends to introduce an amendment to ensure the fund cannot be revived in the future.
“I think even DOJ knows that this was a bad idea and what we need to do is provide finality,” Tillis said. “They’ve said that they’ve quiesced the program, then why can’t we just take the step of statutorily eliminate the question, so that a future decision to reopen it is eliminated?”
Trump wanted a bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol by June 1, but backlash against the fund resulted in members of Congress leaving for Memorial Day recess without passing a bill.