Senate Passes Reconciliation Package with Billions in Funding for Border Security and Removing Illegal Aliens

Earlier today, the Senate passed its reconciliation package, including billions in funding to secure our borders and ramp up interior immigration enforcement. Passage of the FAIR-supported bill came after weekend votes and an all-night legislative session. The final vote was 51-50, with all but three Republicans supporting and all Democrats opposing. Vice President JD Vance was on hand to cast the deciding vote.

The Senate package came in at just under 1,000 pages. Most importantly, the package included billions in immigration funding to complete the border wall; hire more Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents; and funds to fulfill President Trump’s pledge to remove the millions of illegal aliens in the country. Some of the key provisions in the bill:

$46.55 billion for border barriers and related infrastructure, such as cameras and access roads
$45 billion for detention
$29.85 billion for, among other measures, hiring ICE staff; ICE performance, retention, and signing bonuses; and transportation and related costs for removing illegal aliens
$10 billion to reimburse states for border security costs under the Biden administration
$6.1 billion for border surveillance technology, including efforts to combat drug trafficking and screen foreign nationals entering the country
$5 billion for CBP facilities
$4.1 billion to hire additional CBP personnel, including Border Patrol agents and Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at ports of entry
$3.5 billion to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for issuing grants to state and local governments for activities including locating and apprehending illegal aliens who have committed a crime; conducting investigations to counter gang and criminal activity; and prosecuting illegal alien crime
$3.3 billion to the DOJ for, among other measures, hiring immigration judges and staff; combating drug trafficking; and investigating and prosecuting immigration-related crimes
$2 billion for recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses for CBP personnel

The bill also made critical strides to ensure that illegal aliens cannot claim tax credits and public benefits. Those provisions include:

Requiring that taxpayers include Social Security numbers (SSNs) when claiming Child Tax Credits and other tax credits and deductions. While this is a positive step, millions of illegal aliens received work authorization and SSNs under the Biden Administration.

Limiting aliens who can claim Obamacare Tax Credits to lawful permanent residents, certain Cuban and Haitian nationals, and individuals living in the United States through a Compact of Free Association
Limiting aliens who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid to lawful permanent residents, certain Cuban and Haitian nationals, and individuals living in the United States through a Compact of Free Association

Limiting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps) to lawful permanent residents, certain Cuban and Haitian nationals, and individuals living in the United States through a Compact of Free Association

Establishing a remittance tax of 1 percent for the transfer of funds to recipients outside the United States

Senate and House leadership reacted positively to the bill’s passage, while Democrats continued to push back. Following passage, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said: “With this legislation, we are fulfilling the mandate we were entrusted with last November and setting our country – and the American people – up to be safer, stronger, and more prosperous.” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) released a joint statement echoing those comments. “This bill is President Trump’s agenda, and we are making it law. House Republicans are ready to finish the job and put the One Big Beautiful Bill on President Trump’s desk in time for Independence Day.”

The reconciliation bill now moves to the House, where a final vote is expected as early as Wednesday.