WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The Republican-led Senate is moving forward with legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies after forcing the Trump administration to say it will and stripping a from the bill.
The Senate voted 53-46 on Wednesday to begin debate on the roughly $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. The legislation was delayed for weeks as Republican senators navigated the various obstacles to passage created by President Donald Trump and the White House, but they are now moving quickly to pass it after paring it back to its original form.
鈥淩ight now, the goal is to get the base bill across the finish line,鈥� said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
Still, Republicans will need to find enough votes to beat back multiple amendments that Democrats 鈥� and some Republicans 鈥� say they will offer to permanently ban Trump鈥檚 $1.776 billion settlement fund.
After fierce Republican pushback, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told House lawmakers at a hearing on Tuesday that 鈥渨e are not moving forward with the fund, period.鈥� But shortly after the Senate voted to move forward with the bill on Wednesday, Trump repeatedly defended the settlement in response to reporters鈥� questions at the White House.
When asked directly whether the fund is dead or just on hold, Trump responded: 鈥淚鈥檇 have to ask the lawyers, I don鈥檛 know.鈥�
鈥淚 love it,鈥� Trump said of the settlement. 鈥淚 think it’s so important.鈥�
Republicans are that enables them to pass the legislation without any Democratic votes, but they must first wade through a long series of amendment votes that could pose problems for the bill. That process is expected to start on Thursday.
Democratic amendments will test GOP unity
Republicans said they felt reassured by Blanche’s promises to scrap the fund, which was part of a settlement resolving Trump鈥檚 over the leak of his tax returns. GOP senators had revolted and left town two weeks ago after the Justice Department announced the payouts, which could potentially go to participants in the and other Trump allies.
Democrats say they want it written into the law.
鈥淚t is only a matter of time before Blanche and Trump go back on their word,鈥� said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., predicted Wednesday morning.
After Trump’s comments, Schumer posted on X that 鈥渢his is EXACTLY why” Democrats would be forcing votes to ban it.
Some Republicans also planned to try and put Blanche’s promise in writing. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has said he will offer an amendment to block any attempt at resurrecting the fund.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got a sufficient number of Republicans who have been very clear they鈥檝e got concerns there,鈥� said Tillis.
Thune said earlier on Wednesday that Blanche鈥檚 comments were 鈥渆xtremely helpful鈥� and that he thought most GOP senators were satisfied. He said he was working with Tillis and others who have discussed amendments as he tries to ensure he has enough votes for a simple majority in the 53-47 Senate.
鈥淜eep in mind, we鈥檝e got to keep them all together, make sure we鈥檝e got 50 votes for it,鈥� Thune said.
Money dropped for Trump’s ballroom
The legislation was also delayed by the opposition to for the White House, including for , that was added to the original bill.
Democrats and questioned using taxpayer money for the massive project in a time of economic hardship for many voters. Democrats had planned amendments to strip that language, as well.
As various side issues temporarily derailed the legislation, Republicans have said their top priority is passing the ICE and Border Patrol funding that Democrats have blocked for months in protest of the administration鈥檚 .
But success requires GOP unity in the Senate and the House before it can reach Trump.
Republican House leaders said Wednesday they would like to pass the bill before the end of the week, if the Senate can finish it. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said that House leaders were having internal conversations about it.
鈥淲e just need to make sure everybody鈥檚 there,鈥� Scalise said.
It was unclear how Trump鈥檚 comments on the settlement would affect Republicans鈥� votes on the immigration spending bill. In addition to defending the settlement, he also praised the Jan. 6 defendants who could get payouts, saying they had been subjected to 鈥渁buse.鈥�
Friction between White House, Senate threatens other priorities
Even as Republican senators have strongly defended Trump’s agenda, a growing number of them have become as he ignores what they see as their political needs.
The Justice Department announced the settlement fund just as the Senate had planned to move forward on the immigration spending bill, giving Democrats an opportunity to offer amendments that could divide Republicans in an election year. That came just as and both lost reelection bids after Trump endorsed their primary opponents.
Trump also tapped real estate scion , head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, on Tuesday, angering both Republicans and Democrats who said Pulte has no clear national security credentials. The appointment has complicated bipartisan negotiations on revising the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which expires at the end of next week.
At the same time, an increasing number of Republicans are voting against Trump’s war in Iran. The House voted on Wednesday to halt , following a in May to advance its own war powers resolution.
Thune said he wasn’t yet sure whether Republicans would be united on the immigration bill.
鈥淲e鈥檒l find out,” he told reporters.
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Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
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