Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) led a bicameral press conference on the Senate steps on May 21 to oppose a Republican spending bill they said would direct roughly $72 billion to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol while including “zero” affordability provisions.
The Senate is preparing to move the legislation through reconciliation, which allows passage on a simple majority with no Democratic support needed. The bill’s final text had not been released as of the press conference, with Republican leaders still negotiating internal disputes.
The package would direct about $38.2 billion to ICE and roughly $26 billion to Customs and Border Protection through fiscal year 2029, plus $2.5 billion to the Department of Homeland Security, $1.5 billion to the Department of Justice (DOJ), and $1 billion to the Secret Service for security related to the East Wing project, according to the text of the bill released by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on May 4. …
Senate, House Democrats Oppose GOP Spending Bill Over ICE Funding, Affordability Concerns
