Senate Moves Forward With $70B Funding Bill for ICE and Border Patrol
WHO:
ABC News - Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, President Trump, Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats.
The Independent - Senate Republicans, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Thom Tillis, Sen. John Cornyn.
WHAT:
ABC News - The Senate is beginning a long series of votes on legislation to fund President Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies, moving toward passage of a three-year fix.
The Independent - The Senate officially rejected two of Trump’s biggest priorities for the upcoming budget reconciliation bill, including a $1 billion funding item for a ballroom and a $1.776 billion "slush fund" for political allies.
NBC News - The Senate began voting on a bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol as Republicans split on Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.
ABC News - The Senate is voting on a $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.
CBS News Politics - The Senate is holding a series of votes, referred to as a "vote-a-rama," on the funding for immigration agencies.
NY Post - The Senate voted 53-46 to advance the funding plan for ICE and Border Patrol.
The Independent - The Senate's funding bill excludes a $1 billion item for a ballroom and a $1.776 billion "slush fund" for political allies.
WHERE:
ABC News - The Senate is located in Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
ABC News - The bill is intended to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years, through the end of Trump's term.
The Independent - The Senate plans to finalize the reconciliation bill before the end of the week.
WHY:
ABC News - The bill would end the blockade by Democrats who demanded policy changes after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in January.
ABC News - Democrats have blocked funding for months in protest after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents.
The Independent - Senate Republicans retreated from negotiations with Democrats over ICE funding due to opposition within the Senate.
HOW:
The Independent - Senate Republicans stripped controversial items from the bill to ensure its passage through the reconciliation process, following a full-scale revolt in the chamber.
ABC News - Senate Republicans are using a procedural maneuver to pass the budget legislation without Democratic votes.
The Independent - The Senate Republicans stripped controversial items from the bill to ensure its passage through the reconciliation process.
(UPDATED June 4, 2026 19:41 UTC)
The Senate has kicked off a series of votes on legislation aimed at funding President Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies, moving toward a three-year fix. In a significant turn, the Senate officially rejected two of Trump’s key priorities for the budget reconciliation bill, including a $1 billion funding request for a ballroom and a $1.776 billion "slush fund" for political allies. To facilitate progress, Senate Republicans removed controversial items from the bill in response to demands for policy changes after the tragic shootings of two protesters by federal agents earlier this year.
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(UPDATED June 4, 2026 16:07 UTC)
The Senate is currently voting on a $70 billion bill aimed at funding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol, with a recent vote advancing the plan by a margin of fifty-three to forty-six. Senate Republicans have opted for a procedural maneuver to pass this legislation without the support of Democrats, stripping out controversial items to facilitate its progress. The Senate is expected to finalize the reconciliation bill before the end of the week, as funding for these agencies is intended to last through the end of Trump's term.