UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump's nearly $70 billion immigration enforcement package has hit a major roadblock in the Senate, with a marathon of votes looming that could spell disaster for the legislation.
The contentious issue at the heart of the impasse is the Department of Justice's now-defunct "anti-weaponization" fund, a $2 billion fund that has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle. The fund's fate has united Democrats and Republicans in their frustration with the administration, threatening to derail the broader bill.
Both parties are lining up amendments aimed at ensuring the fund is eliminated, albeit to varying degrees. Senate Republican leadership is cautiously optimistic that they can prevent these amendments from succeeding during the "vote-a-rama" process, but the outcome is far from certain.
One glimmer of hope for the GOP is that every Republican voted for the package in its first procedural hurdle on Wednesday afternoon. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed confidence going into the vote, saying that Republican members understand the stakes and will work to defeat amendments that could undermine the bill.
However, if an amendment targeting the fund were to pass, it could jeopardize the reconciliation package's ability to advance with a simple majority of votes. This would effectively hand Democrats a victory, allowing them to kill the package outright.
The fate of the amendments and the threshold required for their passage will ultimately be determined by the Senate rules referee, who will assess whether they comply with the Byrd rule governing the reconciliation process. Republicans had hoped that the add-ons would require a 60-vote threshold, providing them with some breathing room.
The controversy surrounding the fund stems from concerns that it could be used to support individuals convicted of assaulting police officers during the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso shifted the blame to Senate Democrats, accusing them of trying to delay efforts to secure the border and protect the American people.
However, some Republicans, including Senators Thom Tillis and Bill Cassidy, are also planning to introduce amendments aimed at addressing the fund. Cassidy, who was recently ousted from office by Trump, emphasized the need for a solution that would prevent the fund from being misused.
Tillis stressed that there are enough Republicans with concerns about the fund to warrant action, and he is open to seeing one of several proposed amendments succeed. He emphasized that the goal is to address the issue in a way that does not undermine the underlying bill.
