House Republicans Approve $70 Billion Funding Boost for ICE and DHS

With a razor-thin 214-212 vote, the House of Representatives cleared nearly $70 billion in new funding for the Department of Homeland Security and its enforcement arms, cementing a massive financial injection for the administration’s deportation agenda just as the bill heads to the president's desk.

The Secure America Act, introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham, passed with unanimous Republican support, while all Democrats and Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley voted against the measure. The funding covers operations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection through the remainder of Donald Trump’s term, despite fierce opposition from lawmakers and advocacy groups who argue the agencies are already operating without sufficient oversight.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar decried the move as a "disaster for working Americans," noting that the agencies already hold substantial reserves while domestic social programs face potential cuts. Rep. Maxwell Frost echoed this sentiment on social media, accusing the GOP of prioritizing mass deportation over essential public needs like healthcare and housing.

Outside the chamber, critics are pointing to a grim record within the detention system. Lisa Gilbert of Public Citizen labeled the vote "a vote for cruelty and corruption," citing the more than 50 deaths recorded in DHS custody since the current administration took office. ACLU senior policy counsel Kate Voigt underscored the lack of reform, noting that recent months have seen reports of racial profiling, medical neglect, and physical abuse. Detainees nationwide continue to resist these conditions through hunger strikes and legal action, even as the federal government prepares to bolster the agencies' resources.