WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Republicans will not proceed on a bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol. Senators are postponing the vote over disagreements on funding the Justice Department’s so-called “anti-weaponization fund”.
Senate republicans and the president were hoping to finalize the 70-billion dollar ICE and CBP reconciliation bill before Congress recesses next week, but that won’t happen anymore. We heard Senate Republicans are split over this nearly $1.8-billion dollar DOJ fund.
The DOJ created this fund to compensate people who believe they were unfairly targeted by the feds but the fund is getting sharp criticism on Capitol Hill.
Some of the Republicans who are speaking out against the fund, like Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy (R- LA), said more people are concerned about paying their mortgage or affording groceries, not putting together a $1.8 billion dollar fund for the president and his allies to pay whomever they wish with no legal precedent or accountability.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Senate Republicans Thursday afternoon in a closed-door meeting. Reports share Senators aired their concerns over guardrails for this fund and questioned the acting AG over it.
Democrats are criticizing Republicans, calling them disorganized, dysfunctional, and divided.
“Republicans are divided over things Americans don’t want, but Democrats are united around the things the people do want: for us to lower costs, reign in the chaos, fight the corruption, that is endemic to this administration,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D- NY) Senate Minority Leader.
The Senate could still take up this reconciliation measure when they return from their break in June, but they’ll likely be in the same position.
