WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate is expected to begin debate on the Republican-led ICE and Border patrol funding measure. It’s a $72-billion dollar package and will fund those agencies for the next three years. One group on Capitol Hill is pushing back on the bill, saying these immigration tactics hurt their communities.
After the Trump administration announced they’re no longer pursuing a $1.8- billion dollar “Anti-Weaponization Fund” for MAGA allies, some Senate Republicans see a path forward to pass the stalled $72- billion budget reconciliation package to fund ICE and CBP.
Since returning to office, the President’s immigration and enforcement tactics have been in the spotlight. Democrats have pushed back on funding those agencies.
“Republican policies are to have the back of law enforcement, to ensure they have the resources, the personnel, the technology, everything they need to keep our borders secure and to ensure that our nation’s laws are enforced,” said Sen. John Thune (R- SD).
On Wednesday, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Latino advocacy groups are urging members to vote that funding package down.
“I’ve seen firsthand how immigration and enforcement overreach has hurt our immigrant communities on the island,” said Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner, Pablo Jose Hernandez.
In Puerto Rico alone, there have been more than 18-hundred arrests related to the administration’s immigration and enforcement raids since January 2025. The Department of Homeland Security said about 14-hundred arrests are from people from the Dominican Republic.
“Barrio Obrero where most Dominican immigrants live became a ghost town after raids began early last year,” said the Resident Commissioner. “Businesses were shut down, kids were too afraid to go to school, the elderly were too concerned to go to health centers.”
Advocacy groups share concerns surrounding the tactics in these raids and plead for change.
“Incidents of racial profiling, targeted harassment, violence, unlawful detention, kidnapping and violations of the constitutionally protected free speech,” said Linda Xochitl Tortolero, the President and CEO of Latino Policy Forum. “Families want the government to step back from enforcement operations sweeping our neighborhoods, that scare families and prevent parents from sending their kids to school or going to work.”
