Senate approves $70bn for immigration crackdown amid splits over Trump fund

Body votes 52-47 to fund ICE and border patrol for three years, ending partial shutdown, with House still to vote The US Senate passed legislation to fund Donald Trump’s controversial immigration crackdown early on Friday morning. The 52-47 vote on funding for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) passed with no Democratic support at 5am, after a marathon session of votes to knock down proposed amendments. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican who voted against the bill, which used a budget reconciliation process to sidestep the Democratic filibuster. The bill would give the DHS another $70bn to fund immigration enforcement through the remainder of Trump’s term as US president. The legislation now goes to the House for consideration, which is expected to take it up next week. The funding bill does not block a $1.8bn “anti-weaponization” fund, which critics have derided as a slush fund for the president’s allies, despite bipartisan anger. Democrats had sought to attach language blocking its implementation into the legislation. Nor does the bill restore funding to the office of the immigration detention ombudsman