New Reconciliation Bill Would Pump Billions Into ICE, CBP, DOJ
Congressional Republicans are moving forward with a sweeping immigration enforcement funding package that would deliver tens of billions of dollars to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Department of Justice (DOJ) components through 2029. Also funded: security upgrades to President Trump’s ballroom project.
Republicans in both the House and Senate released the text of the bill, after both chambers passed the initial budget framework. The framework allows Republicans to move forward and pass the bill without the threat of a filibuster from Democrats, who have been demanding reforms to immigration enforcement tactics.
$72 Billion Package
The total price tag for the filibuster proof bill is just under $72 billion. Funding will not expire until September 30, 2029, well into the next president's term.
If you combine both House and Senate bills, ICE would receive about $38.2 billion. $30.2 billion of that number is to be used for hiring and training, transportation, agreement with local police departments, information technology, and other programs.
The additional $7.5 billion would go toward ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The legislation includes major funding increases for CBP operations.
CBP would receive about $26 billion, including $22.6 billion for U.S. Border Patrol.
There’s an additional $3.5 billion for border security technology and screening efforts, including “non-intrusive equipment” that employs artificial intelligence to combat narcotics trafficking and screen individuals entering or leaving the U.S.
The Office of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin would be allocated $5 billion to be used for any purpose, if it's consistent with other parts of the bill or with parts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that passed last year.
The U.S. Secret Service would get $1 billion to work on President Trump’s White House ballroom project. The money is to be used for “purposes of security adjustments and upgrades” to the ballroom project, including “above-ground and below-ground security features.”
The legislation specifies that none of the funds may be used for non-security elements of the new White House ballroom.
DOJ Funding
The bill also directs roughly $1.5 billion to DOJ components.
That includes money for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. attorney’s offices.
“The Senate Judiciary Committee is taking action to help provide certainty for federal law enforcement and safer streets for American families,” said Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
Next Steps
Senate Republican leaders aim to put the full bill on the floor the week of May 18, leaving the week of May 11 for markups.
Democrats say they will review the bill to make sure it complies with strict guidelines to avoid the filibuster.
“Republicans looked at families drowning in bills and decided what they really needed was more raids and a Trump ballroom,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
