Senate begins "vote-a-rama" as GOP moves forward with funding ICE without Democrats

Key Points:

• Senate Republicans are advancing a budget reconciliation plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for over three years without Democratic support, bypassing their demands for immigration enforcement reforms.
• The GOP budget resolution authorizes Senate committees to draft legislation increasing spending by up to $70 billion to fund these agencies, with a "vote-a-rama" of unlimited amendments underway, primarily from Democrats seeking to challenge Republicans on affordability and policy issues.
• Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, vow to oppose the plan and highlight contrasts between their priorities and the Republican approach, but lack the votes to block the measure due to the GOP's 53-seat Senate majority and the reconciliation process allowing passage by simple majority.
• DHS funding has been stalled since February following deadly federal agent shootings and failed bipartisan reform talks; the department remains partially shut down, with President Trump authorizing temporary pay for employees amid ongoing legislative deadlock.
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed hope the House will approve DHS funding soon, while Senator John Kennedy briefly delayed the vote to push for inclusion of election reform and cost-of-living measures, ultimately allowing the process to proceed.