Both chambers have advanced plans to provide roughly $70-72 billion in additional funding for ICE enforcement efforts plus enhanced Customs and Border Protection (CBP) measures such as detention expansion, deportation operations and border infrastructure.
President Donald Trump campaigned on these things.
The funding is being pursued through the budget reconciliation process which would allow the Republican majorities to write these goals into law while bypassing a Democrat filibuster in the Senate.
Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Florida) on Friday told “Washington Watch” host Jody Hice that Senate Democrats are the problem with their steadfast opposition to House spending proposals for ICE and CBP.
Instead, Democrats propose restrictions on how federal immigration agents can enforce laws.
Reconciliation provides the mechanism for a majority party to work around a filibuster, but it’s not full-steam ahead in the Senate for the House Republicans’ spending proposals.
The slow-down has come over two issues — $1.8 billion that would be used to compensate conservatives targeted during Joe Biden’s administration — it’s being bill as an “anti-weaponization” fund — and $1 billion for security upgrades and construction related to Trump’s White House east wing modernization and ballroom project.
“Conservatives argue that the core of the legislation, which is boosting ICE operations and strengthening border enforcement, remains a top priority for Republicans. But the debate intensified after additional provisions were attached, and that includes a $1.8 billion fund that's aimed at compensating those who are victims of politically motivated government actions. We're talking about the Biden-era Department of Justice’s targeting of conservatives,” Mary Stackhouse, a reporter for “Washington Watch” said on the program last week.
PBS News obtained a one-page summary given last week to GOP senators that explained how the proposed fund— put in place after Trump settled a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over his leaked tax returns — would work.
The Trump family cannot benefit from the fund, the memo states, but millions of other Americans could.
Some examples of Biden DOJ weaponization targets who could be eligible include: Jan. 6 defendants, those painted by the FBI as potential violent extremists in Catholic churches, pro-life advocates investigated for Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE Act) violations, parents silenced at school board meetings or any other individuals caught up in FBI or DOJ investigations for the conservative beliefs.
“Supporters say the effort addresses years of federal overreach and unequal treatment under the justice system, while some GOP senators want tighter limits on who could qualify,” Stackhouse told Hice.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is proceeding with caution.
"Obviously our members have very legitimate questions about it," he said last week. "We've had some conversations about ... if it's going to be a feature going forward, what it might look like and how we might make sure that it's fenced-in appropriately?"
Republican leaders say they expect the budget package to move ahead after Congress returns to work on June 2.
For now, the House proposal for the ballroom work remains a sticking point too.
“Both of these issues have been controversial, and people want more details,” Haridopolos admitted to Hice.
Cost for the ballroom itself is projected at $400 million according to White House estimates.
The remainder of the $1 billion would go primarily to the Secret Service for:
- above-ground and below-ground security infrastructure
- hardening the ballroom area
- drone detection systems
- bullet-resistant materials
- chemical-threat filtration
- other White House protective upgrades
While Democrats scoff at the ballroom project current events — such as shooting at the White House Correspondents’ dinner in late April and shots fired at the White House over the weekend — continue to make a case for enhanced secure meeting space.
“This is protection for the president of the United States so they can hold state dinners, which is part of statecraft, plus the safety and security which we need, which simply is not available right now, as we saw most recently with the third attempt on President Trump's life just a few weeks ago at a Washington, D.C. Hilton,” Haridopolos said.
