The House of Representatives has passed a bill to provide nearly $70 billion for immigration enforcement over the next three years. The bill, which passed by a vote of 214-212, will provide $38 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $26 billion for the Border Patrol, and $5 billion to cover unforeseen costs.

Immigration Enforcement Funding

The funding is intended to support the Trump administration’s deportation agenda, with the goal of deporting up to 1 million people per year. The bill was passed despite objections from Democrats, who argued that the funding should be accompanied by significant changes in the way ICE operates.

Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas called the bill a “slush fund for ICE,” while Republican Speaker Mike Johnson said it was necessary to fund border security and immigration enforcement. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Border Security and Immigration Enforcement

The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a priority, with a focus on deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. The administration has also sought to increase funding for border security, including the construction of a border wall.

The bill’s passage comes after months of negotiations between Republicans and Democrats over immigration funding. Democrats had sought to include provisions that would require ICE to remove masks and display ID badges during enforcement operations, as well as obtain judicial warrants before entering private property. However, these provisions were not included in the final bill.

The funding will come on top of the nearly $140 billion that the Republican-controlled Congress gave ICE and Customs and Border Protection last year as part of Trump’s tax and spending cuts bill. The bill’s passage is seen as a victory for the Trump administration, which has made immigration enforcement a key part of its agenda.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.