WATCH LIVE: Senate holds ICE funding vote-a-rama

By — Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press By — Kevin Freking, Associated Press Kevin Freking, Associated Press By — Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-senate-holds-ice-funding-vote-a-rama Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Senate holds ICE funding vote-a-rama Politics Jun 4, 2026 9:29 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led Senate is moving forward with legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies after forcing the Trump administration to say it will drop its settlement fund for political allies and stripping a separate proposal for White House security from the bill. Watch the Senate floor live starting at 9:30 a.m. EDT. The Senate voted 53-46 on Wednesday to begin debate on the roughly $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. The legislation was delayed for weeks as Republican senators navigated the various obstacles to passage created by President Donald Trump and the White House, but they are now moving quickly to pass it after paring it back to its original form. WATCH: Trump administration 'not moving forward' with anti-weaponization fund, Blanche testifies "Right now, the goal is to get the base bill across the finish line," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. Still, Republicans will need to find enough votes to beat back multiple amendments that Democrats — and some Republicans — say they will offer to permanently ban Trump's $1.776 billion settlement fund. After fierce Republican pushback, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told House lawmakers at a hearing on Tuesday that "we are not moving forward with the fund, period." But shortly after the Senate voted to move forward with the bill on Wednesday, Trump repeatedly defended the settlement in response to reporters' questions at the White House. When asked directly whether the fund is dead or just on hold, Trump responded: "I'd have to ask the lawyers, I don't know." "I love it," Trump said of the settlement. "I think it's so important." Republicans are using a process called budget reconciliation that enables them to pass the legislation without any Democratic votes, but they must first wade through a long series of amendment votes that could pose problems for the bill. That process is expected to start on Thursday. Democratic amendments will test GOP unity Republicans said they felt reassured by Blanche's promises to scrap the fund, which was part of a settlement resolving Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. GOP senators had revolted and left town two weeks ago after the Justice Department announced the payouts, which could potentially go to participants in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and other Trump allies. WATCH: Senate starts voting on legislat