US Senate approves $70 billion funding package for ICE

The United States Senate passed a $70 billion (about €60 billion) funding package that guarantees full financing for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and Border Patrol for the next three years. The vote was 52‑47, with only Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski dissenting among her caucus. The bill omits an amendment known as the “Instrumentalization Fund,” which Democrats and some Republicans had sought to include and which critics label a scam.

The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for final approval. Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, condemned the measure as a “rotten” bill that prioritizes Trump’s agenda over accountability. The funding ensures that ICE and Border Patrol operations continue without interruption, despite ongoing controversies over alleged human‑rights abuses and incidents involving the agencies.