UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump moved one step closer to locking in immigration enforcement funding through the end of his presidency, with a critical vote taking place in the House.
The Republican-backed $70 billion immigration enforcement and border security measure advanced along party lines during a test vote of 213-211, with all Democrats present voting "no". This procedural vote sets the stage for a final passage vote in the House, where Republicans are expected to approve the measure as early as Tuesday evening.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the Senate-passed measure now heads to a vote on final passage in the House, where it is expected to be approved. House Speaker Mike Johnson can afford to spare just a handful of votes, given Republicans' slim majority in the lower chamber.
"We need to fully fund this department, especially at a time of heightened security threats," House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Tuesday, emphasizing the need for robust funding. Some conservatives initially withheld their support during the test vote, but ultimately backed the measure's advancement following discussions with leadership.
The vote came after the Senate approved the GOP-authored measure largely along party lines 52-47 last week, with one Republican senator joining Democrats to vote against the package. House Republicans had chosen to delay advancing the bill, sparking concerns about the timing of the vote.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Republicans have sought to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for months, despite entrenched opposition from Democrats. The party's efforts to fund these agencies have been met with fierce resistance, with Democrats demanding sweeping reforms before agreeing to new funding.
"Giving a $70 billion blank check to ICE, who has a history of brutalizing, terrorizing communities, killing U.S. citizens, is not what we should be doing," a top Democrat said, highlighting concerns about accountability and oversight. The objections helped spark the longest shutdown in American history, but ultimately yielded no reforms.
GOP leadership decided to pursue the partisan budget reconciliation process to fund both agencies through fiscal year 2029, allowing the party to steer around Democrats' opposition. The move sets the stage for a contentious showdown over immigration policy and funding.
The funding measure has been marred by controversy, with some Republicans fearing that a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" could benefit individuals convicted of violent offenses. Democrats have labeled the funding pot a "slush fund" designed to pay off the president's political allies.
A coalition of congressional Republicans also rebelled against the inclusion of $1 billion in security upgrades for the president's ballroom project, which is already under construction. The president has previously said the East Wing project would be funded through private donations.
