US Congress approves $70 billion for immigration and border agencies

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Republican‑backed spending bill allocating $70 billion to the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration and border enforcement components, including the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) and the Border Patrol. The measure passed by a narrow 214‑212 margin and will fund the agencies through the end of the Trump administration in 2029, ending a months‑long budget impasse.

President Donald Trump, speaking at the Oval Office, said the new funding will help shift drug‑interdiction efforts from maritime routes to the land border with Mexico, citing a 97 % drop in sea‑borne narcotics and a 60 % decline in fentanyl imports over the past year. He warned Mexico that the administration will now focus on combating cartels on land, noting that the legislation provides $38 billion for ICE and $26 billion for the Border Patrol to boost surveillance and enforcement.