The Senate passed a $70 billion bill early Friday to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years, ending months of delays. The 52-47 vote followed an all-night clash over former President Donald Trump’s disputed $1.776 billion settlement fund, with Republicans defeating multiple bipartisan attempts to block payouts. GOP divisions over the fund, despite assurances it won’t proceed, nearly derailed the bill, which now shifts to the House amid ongoing immigration policy battles.
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The Senate began a lengthy “vote-a-rama” session on Thursday as lawmakers consider a Republican-backed package that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the end of President Donald Trump’s second term.
The marathon voting session allows senators to offer an unlimited number of amendments.
Senate Republicans quickly voted against an amendment that would have permanently blocked the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion fund that may have paid settlements to Trump allies that allege they have been improperly investigated or prosecuted.
Republicans and the Trump administration have said the fund is effectively dead for now, though Trump has made conflicting comments in recent days about its future.
Meanwhile, chamber leadership on Thursday expected to eventually have the votes to pass the broad funding package.
“I feel optimistic that we’ll get there in the end," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).
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Another amendment would address Trump's settlement with the IRS, which critics say would limit some audits involving the president and his family.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., expressed skepticism that the amendment votes would significantly alter the outcome of the funding package.
“This is a pointless, performative — there’s no value in this,” Fetterman told reporters. “We all know that they’ll have the votes to pass this.”
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The vote-a-rama is expected to continue into the night and possibly into the early morning hours. Each amendment vote typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes, though some can take longer.
The process also gives Democrats an opportunity to force Republicans to take public positions on controversial issues, creating votes that could become campaign fodder during the 2026 midterm elections.
