Senate Republicans pass bill authorizing $70bn for immigration enforcement in vote-a-rama – US politics live

Senate Republicans early Friday passed a bill that would provide the Department of Homeland Security with nearly $70 billion in new funds for immigration enforcement. The vote came after a more than 18-hour “vote-a-rama”, a process by which senators offer amendments to bills passed using the reconciliation procedure. The Senate’s Democratic minority leader, Chuck Schumer , had said earlier this week that he would use vote-a-rama to force Republicans into publicly defending the policies of Donald Trump , a move that ultimately forced Senate Republicans to drop their attempt to spend $1bn on security improvements for Trump’s White House ballroom. Among the amendments voted on in this marathon session was an attempt introduced by Schumer to kill the “anti-weaponization fund” and stop Trump from creating a $1.8bn fund to pay his allies . The measure was narrowly defeated in a 49-50 vote after three Republican senators broke with their party to join all Democrats in support. Senate Republicans narrowly block bid to bar Trump’s $1.8bn fund to pay allies Read more “Tonight, Senate Republicans passed a rotten bill that makes their priorities painfully clear: more money for Donald Trump, more power for Donald Trump, and nothing to lower costs for working families,” Schumer said in a statement posted on X after the immigration reforcement funding bill passed. He continued: “…The Republican agenda is now written in black and white: A slush fund for Trump, tax dodges for Trump, a ballroom for Trump, and a private militia for Trump. For hard-working Americans? Nothing.” On X, Republican senator Lindsey Graham said he was “very proud of my Republican colleagues for sticking together and making sure that Border Patrol and ICE (Immigration Customs and Enforcement) are fully funded”. “Well done to President Trump and my Republican colleagues,” Graham said. Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican senator to vote against the new immigration enforcement funding. In other developments: New abuse allegations have emerged against Greg Platner, a Democratic candidate for the Senate. Platner, a progressive running for election in Maine, has rejected the new report published on Thursday in the New York Times that included an interview with a Republican operative who accused him of womanizing, physical misconduct and making troubling comments about rape. Trump has suggested that his controversial ally Bill Pulte will investigate “rigged elections” while serving as the country’s top intelligence official. Pulte, whom Trump appointed as acting director of national intelligence earlier this week, is a “very smart guy,” Trump claimed on Thursday, “and you may find out some things about the rigged elections, etc, etc”. Pam Bondi on Thursday told lawmakers before the House oversight and reform committee that Todd Blanche, the man Trump has lined up to replace her, was “in charge” of the the US Department of Justice’s controversial handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.