Graham's $70B ICE Plan Passes Senate

0:00It's April 21st. This is U.S. News today, AI-powered stories shaping the nation. I'm Cory, with the story. Senator Lindsey Graham just dropped his plan to put money into immigration and customs enforcement in Border Patrol, pushing it through the Senate. This week, using reconciliation, which only needs a simple majority vote. Republicans hold a 53-47 edge up there, and this comes after President Trump's June 1st deadline for funding those agencies. The Department of Homeland Security shut down since February 14th. Democrats like Senator Patty Murray are firing back, calling it a blank check without reforms, while Graham says it's urgent to protect the country. And even Senate Majority Leader John Thune regrets having to go this route instead of bipartisan appropriations. The plan hands off bill drafting to the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, capping each at $70 billion to cover $3.5. Congress through the end of Trump's term. House Republicans plan to pick it up next week if the Senate approves, keeping the pressure

1:02on to end the shutdown and beef up border security.