US Senate passes $70 billion funding for ICE, Border Patrol

Lead

The US Senate early Friday morning passed a $70 billion funding bill for immigration enforcement, handing President Donald Trump a major legislative victory after a marathon session that stretched past midnight. The legislation provides three years of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), agencies at the center of Trump's mass deportation drive.

The vote was 52-47, with no Democratic support and one Republican opposing the bill. The funding will last through the end of Trump's term, according to multiple reports. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority and passage is considered likely.

Coverage Comparison

The bill's passage was reported across international outlets, with consistent details on the vote count and the funding amount. Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, the South China Morning Post, and The Hindu all noted the 52-47 vote and the absence of Democratic support. However, sources differed slightly on the funding's duration: Al Jazeera stated it would cover "throughout Trump's term," while Deutsche Welle and The Hindu specified three years, through the end of his term.

A key point of contention in all reports was the so-called "anti-weaponisation fund" – a $1.776 billion settlement fund that could compensate Trump's political allies who claim they were mistreated by the government. The fund, introduced by the Department of Justice but later abandoned, became a flashpoint during the Senate debate, with Democrats calling it a "slush fund" for Trump's allies.

Key Claims

* The Senate passed the $70 billion funding bill with a 52-47 vote, with no Democratic support. * The funding is for ICE and CBP and will last three years, through the end of Trump's term. * The bill was delayed due to Democratic opposition to further funding for immigration enforcement. * The "anti-weaponisation" fund, set at $1.776 billion, was initially introduced but later abandoned by the Department of Justice, according to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's congressional testimony. * Trump said people who believed they were politically persecuted could apply for compensation via the fund, as reported by a single source. * Democrats and several Republicans supported amendments to ban the fund, but Republicans narrowly defeated these attempts. * The bill follows a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year, as reported by one outlet.

Perspectives

Republican Leadership: Senate Majority Leader John Thune framed the "anti-weaponisation" fund as a "settled issue," citing Blanche's testimony that the DOJ would not proceed with it. Thune expressed confidence that the bill's passage would not be derailed by the fund controversy.

Democratic Opposition: Democrats argued that the fund would serve as a "slush fund" for Trump's allies and pushed for amendments to permanently ban it. Their efforts were unsuccessful, but they forced a lengthy "vote-a-rama" that tested Republican unity.

Independent Observers: The South China Morning Post characterized the bill as a "victory" for Trump, while Al Jazeera noted the "controversial" nature of the immigration enforcement drive and the fund, highlighting public protests outside ICE detention centers.