Senate GOP Delays ICE Funding Vote Over Trump-Backed Fund

U.S. Senate Republicans on Thursday postponed a planned vote on a bill to fund immigration enforcement operations, after internal objections to a $1.8 billion fund backed by President Donald Trump. The fund is intended for victims of government “weaponization,” including people convicted of violent crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. The delay pushes the vote on the broader package until at least June, after lawmakers return from the Memorial Day recess.

The measure totals $72 billion and includes funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the bill was initially intended to be narrow and “clean,” but became more difficult to advance after new provisions were added at Trump’s request.

Republican resistance also focused on an additional $1 billion for a White House ballroom project. Several senators said they opposed using taxpayer funding for the plan, which Trump had previously said would not require public money.

The dispute played out as tensions rose within the party following Trump’s endorsements against incumbent Republican senators, adding to what some lawmakers described as a more acrimonious atmosphere around the legislation.

Justice Department questioned on “weaponization” fund

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche met with senators and faced questions about how the $1.8 billion fund would be used. Several lawmakers argued the money should not compensate people convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers during the Capitol riot.

Concerns about the fund’s scope and optics became a central reason the vote was delayed, as Republicans weighed whether to impose limitations before bringing the legislation to the floor.

Ballroom funding emerges as a second sticking point

Opposition to the White House ballroom allocation compounded the internal split. Senators objecting to the provision said it complicated passage of what leadership had framed as a funding bill for immigration enforcement operations.

The pushback was strong enough that a planned White House meeting between Trump, Senate Republicans and House Speaker Mike Johnson was canceled, according to a source familiar with the arrangement.

Senate leaders have not set a new date for a vote, and negotiations are expected to continue as lawmakers consider whether to revise or narrow the disputed funding provisions before June.