by Deported.news Staff | June 11, 2026
President Donald Trump signed a $70 billion bill into law Wednesday that fully funds U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection through the end of his term, capping a months-long partisan standoff over immigration enforcement.
The Secure America Act, passed by Republicans alone using the budget reconciliation process, provides roughly $38 billion for ICE and $26 billion for Border Patrol operations, with additional funds for technology and related activities available through fiscal year 2029. Trump hailed the measure in an Oval Office ceremony as essential to border security
“This morning I’m thrilled to sign the Secure America Act to immediately and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of my term, so we won’t have that to be talking about anymore,” Trump said, flanked by Republican lawmakers. “We’ll give the heroes of ICE and Border Patrol — and that’s what they are, they’re heroes what they have to go through to keep us safe — the support and resources they need to defend our borders, protect our homeland and to keep America safe.”
The legislation emerged after Democrats blocked broader Homeland Security funding, demanding reforms such as a de facto constitutional amendment that would have required the executive agency to obtain judicial permission before making arrests.
Republicans responded with a ‘split and reconcile’ strategy that removed enforcement funding for ICE and CBP from regular appropriations, advancing it separately through reconciliation—a procedural vote that requires only a simple majority. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, an early advocate for the approach, had pushed the strategy months earlier amid funding disputes.
“If that’s where the Democrats are, I’ve suggested let’s fund ICE and CBP through reconciliation,” Cruz said in March. He later argued it would lock in long-term support: “Let’s take up reconciliation, and let’s fund ICE for the next decade, because the Democrats are going to vote against ICE funding for the foreseeable future.”
The Senate passed the measure 52-47 last week after a “vote-a-rama” of amendments. The House followed narrowly, 214-212 on Tuesday, largely along party lines. Republicans framed the bill as fulfilling promises on border security and ending uncertainty for law enforcement. Democrats criticized it as a blank check lacking oversight. The funding builds on a previous $170 billion reconciliation package from last year.
Trump’s signature removes a key point of leverage in future budget fights, allowing sustained operations for deportations, investigations and border security.
