Senate Passes $70-140B ICE, Border Patrol Funding

0:00Senate Republicans just pushed through a budget blueprint that paves the way for $70 to $140 billion in funding for, immigration and customs enforcement and border patrol. They approved it in a tight 50-48 vote early Thursday, with Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Kentucky's Rand Paul as the only two no votes from their side. This sets up the reconciliation process to bypass Democrats and get the cash flowing without their input. The plan covers those agencies for the next three years, and, paired with another Senate bill, should in the ongoing department of Homeland Security. Shut down that's dragged on since mid-February. After a long night of amendment battles, Republicans sent it straight to the house, where GOP leaders there need to sign off to unlock everything. Democrats tried highlighting cost of living fights installed disaster aid during the debate, but most of their pushes fell flat. Republicans split along party lines, with some Republicans like Lindsey Graham landing a unanimous win on one amendment to prioritize detaining, and, deporting undocumented

1:04folks convicted of serious crimes like rape or murder. Other big ideas didn't make it, including a voter ID mandate for federal elections, extending a Planned Parenthood funding ban through Medicaid, tackling private equity's role in housing prices, and releasing billions in FEMA disaster relief for states hit by floods, fires, and hurricanes. A few modern Republicans crossed over to block those. Now the balls in the house is court. If they adopt this, it could wrap up DHS funding fast, get agents back to full strength at the border, and finally, free up that emergency cash for communities in need. From your city, powered by AI, this is Anchorage News Today.