WASHINGTON: The US Senate handed President Donald Trump a victory early Friday morning, passing a bill that would provide the Department of Homeland Security with an additional $70 billion for immigration enforcement and sending it to the House of Representatives for final consideration.

The Senate voted 52-47 to approve the legislation, with no support from Democrats and no provision to ban a $1.8bn “anti-weaponisation” fund that could compensate Trump’s political allies for allegations that the government mistreated them.

One Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski, voted against the bill. Senate Republican Leader John Thune said the fund was a “settled issue,” citing acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s congressional testimony this week that the Department of Justice would not move forward with it, though Democrats have said his word was insufficient.

Trump subsequently said he intended to nominate Blanche to lead the Justice Department – an action that would require Senate confirmation. Thune warned the nomination could face an uphill battle but said Blanche would be an acceptable choice.

“I find it very hard to believe that they’re going to submit somebody who sat in front of a committee in the House and made definitive statements about this and then somehow all of a sudden turn around and go back on them,” Thune told reporters.

Republicans have accused Democrats of “defunding” Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, despite the agencies having a combined $100bn in unspent funds.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026