Senate approves DHS funding without funding for immigration enforcement

There was a lot of activity surrounding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) was confirmed as the new Secretary of Homeland Security on Monday in a vote of 54-45. He is taking the reins of a department that hasn’t been funded since February 14th.

In the wee hours of the morning, the Senate approved a bill to fund most of DHS. The bill does not provide funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Border Patrol. The Senate-passed bill now moves to the House, where there is growing backlash.

If there's anything good to take away from this development, it's that Democrats didn't get any of their policy demands that would, in effect, end most immigration enforcement. While much of ICE and Border Patrol are, in fact, being funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (even though that funding was allocated for new officers, agents, and technology), a significant number of support and administrative staff have been furloughed during the partial shutdown. These staff will continue to go unpaid under the Senate-passed bill.

The Senate decided it would be easier to fund immigration enforcement through budget reconciliation, rather than work through their Easter vacation. However, as we learned from last year's effort to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that's not an easy or quick process. Plus, the GOP margin in the House of Representatives has shrunk since last year, making it increasingly more difficult to pass a reconciliation bill.

The good news is that House Republicans appear disinclined to let the Senate get away with this cop out. House Speaker Mike Johnson is rallying his colleagues to pass a 60-day Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the Department of Homeland Security in its entirety! If this CR passes the House, the Senate would need to return to Washington, D.C., to deal with it.

The Immigration Accountability Project (IAP) is working directly with House Republicans to get funding for DHS—all of DHS—back on track!

The SAVE America Act

The SAVE America Act, Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-UT) bill to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID at the polls, is still, technically, on the Senate floor for debate. When the Senate returns from their Easter vacation (April 13th, unless they have to return early to address DHS funding), they will resume the debate on the bill. IAP will be working hard over the next couple of weeks to maintain public momentum in support of the bill.

Rep. Mills moves up in Congressional Immigration Rankings

Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) moved up 12 spots in this week's release of the Congressional Immigration Rankings, according to IAP Action. Rep. Mills now ranks 55th overall in the House after cosponsoring H.R. 569, the Birthright Citizenship Act, which would end the automatic granting of citizenship to children born in the United States to illegal aliens and foreign visitors. IAP Action rates the bill as Key Legislation. 

Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) dropped 19 spots after she cosponsored H.R. 6390, the Make Housing Affordable and Defend Democracy Act. The bill, which IAP Action also rates as Key Legislation, would rescind the $175 billion of immigration enforcement funding included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and use it instead for affordable housing. 

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

Immigration Articles

Fox News: Number of immigrants in border communities plunges thanks to Trump crackdown

According to new Census Bureau estimates, population growth in U.S. cities and border communities slowed significantly in 2025 as immigration levels fell during the early months of the Trump administration.

White House: America First in Action: U.S. Records Net Negative Migration Across Every Metro Area

The Trump Administration is highlighting a historic shift in U.S. immigration, noting that every metropolitan area experienced a decline in net immigration and the country reached net negative immigration for the first time in 50 years.

Daily Signal: EXCLUSIVE: Airport Billboards Blame Democrats for Long TSA Lines

The Oversight Project, a member of the Mass Deportation Coalition, paid for mobile billboards at D.C.-area airports that blame Democrats for long TSA lines during a DHS shutdown while highlighting that a majority of Americans support the deportation of illegal aliens.

New York Post: US territory turned tropical maternity ward has produced thousands of ‘American’ babies for parents living in China

This article explores the booming "birth tourism" industry in the Northern Mariana Islands, where thousands of Chinese women travel to give birth to ensure their children receive automatic U.S. citizenship. IAP’s own Chris Chmielenski argues this creates a national security risk and alarming potential for chain migration, as these children can later sponsor green cards for their families in China.

Next Week

Much of next week depends on House activity this afternoon. If they pass a continuing resolution for all of DHS, it will be up to the Senate to respond next week, despite the scheduled 2-week recess.