How long have the Democrats been throwing a wrench into the funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)?
Their obstruction led to the longest government shutdown in history. But they did not care about who they might hurt in the process. Hopefully, everyone who cares about the safety of the nation remembers, come November, and votes out whoever was involved in this travesty.
"Democrats would not agree to anything, and eventually they walked away altogether, presumably because they thought that it would serve them better to have an issue for November," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said.
READ MORE: Finally: Senate Republicans Cross the Rubicon, Voting to Consider ICE, CBP Reconciliation Bill
The Democrats were still trying on Thursday, as the final battle went down in the Senate over the reconciliation package to fund the agencies.
Many of the amendments pushed by Democrats put Republicans in tough reelection bids, including Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, into politically challenging positions.
Because, of course. Even as they're losing, they were still trying to hamstring the Republicans.
There were a variety of amendments that people on both sides of the aisle attempted, including an attempt to permanently shut down any question of an anti-weaponization fund, to stop the building of the ballroom, and to add the SAVE America Act. Those attempts failed.
"It's not that tense," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said. "I mean, I've seen worse. Nobody's stabbed anybody yet."
Well, that's a way to put it.
But for all the months of Democrat obstruction, the Senate finally managed to pass the $70 billion package to fund the immigration enforcement agencies for the next three and a half years.
After an 18+ hour vote-a-rama, the Senate just passed the GOP’s reconciliation bill to fund ICE and border patrol in a 52-47 vote, sending it to the House for consideration.
— Mychael Schnell (@mychaelschnell) June 5, 2026
Murkowski was the only GOP no vote.
All amendments to block the anti-weaponization fund were defeated.
The measure now heads to the House, where the Republicans are expected to pass it by next week, and at least for three and a half years, Democrats won't be able to stop ICE and the CBP from being fully funded to do their job for the American people.
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