US House passes USD 70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill for Trump

The Republicancontrolled House of Representatives narrowly approved a nearly USD 70 billion package to fund US immigration enforcement agencies for the next three years handing President Donald Trump a major victory on one of his signature issues and setting the stage for an expansion of border security operationsThe legislation known as the Secure America Act passed 214212 largely along party lines and now heads to Trumps desk for his signature The measure provides longterm funding for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE and Customs and Border Protection CBP ending months of partisan deadlock over immigration enforcement fundingThe vote marked the culmination of a fourmonth political standoff after Democrats sought to tie funding to new restrictions on immigration enforcement practices Republicans ultimately used the budget reconciliation process to bypass Democratic opposition and move the legislation through CongressToday Republicans fulfilled our responsibility to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino said after the voteWe delivered the resources needed to keep our borders secure interdict illicit drugs such as fentanyl and combat human trafficking and smuggling he saidGarbarino said the legislation would support the dedicated men and women of DHS law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect the homeland and keep the American people safeMichael Guest chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement described the measure as a way to ensure that ICE and Border Patrol personnel have the resources needed to disrupt cartels combat human trafficking and drug smuggling and remove public safety threats from our communitiesThe White House and Republican allies portrayed the legislation as a crucial step in sustaining Trumps immigration agendaIn a statement Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said It is imperative that Congress immediately passes the Secure America Act to fully fund these critical componentsTom Homan Trumps border czar said the new funding would significantly increase enforcement effortsWhen this reconciliation passes thats USD 70B that will fund us until the end of the Trump Administration Youre going to see targeting increase youre going to see arrests increase Homan saidDemocrats and immigrant advocacy groups condemned the legislation arguing that it would expand enforcement powers without sufficient oversightTodd Schulte president of FWDus called the package a stunning policy failure and criticised lawmakers for directing vast sums to immigration enforcement while the cost of living rises and health care funding is slashedRep Grace Meng chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus accused Republicans of giving ICE and Border Patrol another USD 70 billion to continue its mass deportation campaign without any accountability or oversightMeng said CAPAC members opposed additional funding absent serious and meaningful reformsThe legislation underscores the sharp divide between the two parties on immigration Republicans argue stronger enforcement is essential to maintaining border security and public safety Democrats counter that additional funding should be accompanied by reforms and safeguards to prevent abusesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever