New Delhi: The U.S. House of Representatives approved a three-year budget plan on Wednesday, paving the way for Congress to consider an additional $70 billion for federal immigration enforcement.
The House voted 215–211 along party lines, with no Democratic support. House Speaker Mike Johnson kept the vote open for more than five hours to secure enough Republican backing, as some lawmakers—particularly from agricultural states—were holding out for a future vote on expanding sales of gasoline blended with ethanol.
The Senate had already approved the plan on April 23. With both chambers now aligned, Republicans will draft the details of the $70 billion proposal and attempt to pass it before sending it to President Donald Trump for signature into law.
Republicans aim to finalize the legislation in May using a special budget procedure, rarely used, that allows passage in the Senate without Democratic votes.
Republicans used the same approach last year to approve roughly $130 billion in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agencies, significantly expanding enforcement capacity as part of Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
Democrats have sought to limit ICE and Border Patrol operations in U.S. cities, especially after controversial incidents during enforcement actions. Earlier this year in Minneapolis, federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens during operations, sparking protests and investigations.
Meanwhile, funding for several agencies under the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire by the end of the week unless Republicans in Congress reach an agreement on a separate spending bill for the fiscal year ending on September 30.
The Senate has passed a funding bill covering agencies such as the Secret Service, Coast Guard, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but House Republicans have so far declined to approve it.
(DD News)