Trump Fund Splits Republicans on Immigration Vote

The US Senate resumed debate on Thursday on a $70bn immigration enforcement bill intended to strengthen President Donald Trump’s deportation policy over the next three years and expand funding for border security agencies.

Republicans rejected several Democratic amendments during the debate. The most contentious proposal sought to eliminate a $1.8bn fund that critics have described as a slush fund for Trump’s political allies.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the fund unacceptable and introduced a motion to abolish it permanently. The measure failed by 50 votes to 49, exposing divisions among Republicans concerned about voter backlash ahead of the November midterm elections. Three Republican senators – Susan Collins, Dan Sullivan and Jon Husted – sided with Democrats.

Trump said on Wednesday that he considered the fund very important. The White House and the Justice Department had previously moved to halt plans for it after opposition from some Republicans.

Almost all of the proposed funding would go to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other border enforcement bodies. If the Senate approves the package, the House of Representatives could take it up as early as next week.

Some Republican senators have also backed efforts to abolish the fund permanently, warning that its continued existence could raise constitutional and legal risks.

(reuters, max)