Representative Juan Ciscomani (D-AZ) is calling it a win after Congress finally resolved a lengthy dispute over funding for the nation's immigration enforcement agencies.
The House voted 214 to 212 on Tuesday to approve roughly $70 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Ciscomani, who serves as vice chair of the appropriations subcommittee overseeing DHS, was heavily involved in pushing the bill across the finish line.
"I know many of them personally that weren't getting paid, that was absolutely wrong," Ciscomani said, referring to federal agents who went without their full paychecks during the standoff.
The funding gap stretched 115 days, making it one of the longest partial government shutdowns on record for that portion of DHS. The standoff began earlier this year after federal officers fatally shot two protesters in Minneapolis, prompting Democrats to withhold support for ICE and Border Patrol funding unless significant reforms were made to how the agencies operate.
Additional Funding Changes
Those proposed changes included requiring officers to obtain judicial warrants before entering homes and banning the use of masks during operations.
Negotiations ultimately broke down, and Republicans used a legislative procedure called budget reconciliation to pass the bill with a simple majority, bypassing the need for Democratic support. However, Democrats did not get the reforms they were pushing for.
The approved funds are substantial because ICE alone is receiving more than three times its typical annual budget, with funds available through 2029.
NPR reported Border Patrol received $22 billion, and an additional $5 billion was set aside for border security technology, including artificial intelligence tools.
Ciscomani specifically called out Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), saying both repeatedly voted against the funding throughout the standoff.
Looking ahead, Ciscomani noted that Congress is already working on the homeland security budget for next fiscal year, hoping to avoid a repeat.
"We can't let that happen again," he said.
The bill now heads to President Donald Trump's desk to be signed into law.
