Senate unveils funding package for immigration enforcement

Despite this week's Congressional recess, the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees dropped text on Monday for the budget reconciliation bill to provide funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Before leaving town last week, the House approved the already Senate-passed budget resolution that provides the framework for the reconciliation bill.

The reconciliation package would provide:

• $38.2 billion for ICE;
• $26 billion for CBP, including $3.5 billion for border security technology and screening;
• $5 billion in extra funding for the Department of Homeland Security; and
• $1.5 billion for the Justice Department.

This funding would remain available to DHS and DOJ through the remainder of President Trump’s term. To compare, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026, which passed out of the House committee last year, would have provided $10 billion for ICE.

Lawmakers return to Washington next week and will have just two weeks for both chambers to finalize and pass the budget reconciliation bill and send it to Pres. Trump's desk before the Memorial Day recess.

Amnesty talk in the West Wing?

Several reports circulated this week that the White House has had conversations about granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens. White House Border Czar Tom Homan, who first confirmed to CBS News that those discussions are happening, told Fox News' Will Cain on Thursday that Pres. Trump has said that "amnesty is off the table."

Over the last month, Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) has aggressively pushed her DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act (H.R. 4393), which would grant amnesty to approximately ten million illegal aliens.

Of course, much of this debate boils down to how the president and others in his administration define the word "amnesty." We, at the Immigration Accountability Project (IAP), define amnesty as anything that allows illegal aliens to legally remain in the United States, while many others, including some in the Republican Party, argue that it's not amnesty unless it also conveys a path to citizenship.

IAP will continue to push back on any talk of amnesty and continue to work with the Mass Deportation Coalition to remind the administration of Pres. Trump's campaign promises to "carry out the largest mass deportation operation in American history."

Little movement in Immigration Rankings

Due to the Congressional recess, there was little movement this week in IAP Action's Congressional Immigration Rankings.

Only two House Members made moves, with Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA) moving up one spot and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) moving down one spot in the House rankings. 

Rep. Jack cosponsored the Americans First Act, H.R. 8586, which would end chain migration and the visa lottery. It would reallocate the lottery green cards to a new merit-based green card system that would replace the current employment-based system.

Rep. Sherman cosponsored the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act of 2026, H.R. 7608, which would grant amnesty to illegal aliens from Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam.

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

Immigration Articles

Washington Post: Immigrants are giving up their cases and leaving the U.S. in soaring numbers

This week, the Washington Post verified what we’ve all known: Attrition through enforcement works. Thanks to increased enforcement efforts, there has been a sevenfold increase in illegal aliens choosing to leave on their own rather than stay through a lengthy legal process.

Politico: Trump border czar threatens ICE surge if New York approves sanctuary measures

Homan: “What’s going to happen with places like New York and [if] people pass ridiculous legislation not to work with us, we’re going to flood the zone… You’re going to see more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen before. So, congratulations.”

Washington Post: A GOP lawmaker supported an immigration crackdown. Her husband paid a price.

In the Idaho Republican primary, the state’s multi-billion-dollar cheap labor industry is clashing with conservative lawmakers over restrictive immigration policies, as businesses begin cutting financial ties with politicians who support a crackdown on illegal immigration. 

Next Week

The House and Senate are returning next week. We’re expecting significant movement on the reconciliation process to fund ICE and CBP in full.