GOP faces minor setback on bill to fund immigration enforcement

The Senate has begun its "Byrd Bath" review of the Republican budget reconciliation bill, which funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The legislation allocates $38.2 billion for ICE and $26 billion for CBP, alongside additional funding for border security technology, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Named after the late West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd, the "Byrd Bath" is a procedural step within the budget reconciliation process. It ensures the legislation conforms to strict Senate budget rules, allowing the bill to pass with a simple majority rather than facing the 60-vote threshold required for cloture.

On Thursday, the Senate Parliamentarian sided with Democrats on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs portion, ruling that a section funding CBP and providing extra money for DHS violated Senate rules. While Democrats celebrated the decision, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) downplayed the setback, stating the section merely requires "technical fixes that were not unexpected." The Senate will modify its bill as necessary to pass the Byrd rule.

Today, the Parliamentarian is expected to rule on remaining sections of the bill, including funding for the DOJ and a White House ballroom project.

Republicans in both chambers aim to pass the legislation before the Memorial Day recess scheduled to begin at the end of next week. President Trump has also set a June 1st deadline for the bill to reach his desk for signature, and the Senate is still planning committee markups next week.

New House leader in Immigration Rankings

Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) has taken over the top spot in the latest release of IAP Action's Congressional immigration rankings. Rep. Moore moved up from the sixth spot to the top spot after cosponsoring three bills identified as key legislation by IAP Action.

Rep. Moore cosponsored the TPS Reform Act, H.R 4201, which would require that an act of Congress is required for future designations for Temporary Protected Status, the Domestic Jobs Protection Act, H.R. 5232, which would close a loophole that allows the Executive Branch to create guestworker programs, such as the Optional Practical Training program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and more, and the PAUSE Act, H.R. 6225, which would place a moratorium on most immigration to the United States until significant reductions in immigration are made to existing law.

In the Senate, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) moved up one spot to No. 7 this week after he cosponsored the Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act, S. 1952. The bill would make releasing the names of officers to the public with the intent to obstruct criminal or immigration enforcement operations a crime under the obstruction of justice statute.

You can view the full Immigration Rankings at IAPAction.com.

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Next Week

The House and Senate are returning next week. Markups are set to begin on the Senate’s reconciliation package.