Senate Approves Homeland Security Funding Without ICE, Border Patrol

House to Consider Stripped-Down Bill After Senate Compromise

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:05pm

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The U.S. Senate has approved a bill to fund the majority of the Department of Homeland Security, but it excludes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. The bill now heads to the House, where it's unclear if Speaker Mike Johnson will hold a vote before the chamber's spring recess. The shutdown began in mid-February after Democrats demanded new restrictions on immigration enforcement following the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

Why it matters

The Senate's move to exclude ICE and Border Patrol funding from the DHS bill reflects the ongoing partisan battle over immigration enforcement. Democrats have pushed for reforms to these agencies amid concerns over abuses, while Republicans have sought to maintain or increase their funding. The fate of the bill in the House will signal whether a compromise can be reached to end the shutdown.

The details

The Senate bill that passed in a voice vote around 2:30 a.m. Eastern on Friday no longer includes funding for ICE or Border Patrol. Republicans had previously approved tens of billions for these agencies' operations. GOP lawmakers signaled they'll try to pass another funding boost for immigration enforcement and deportations later this year through the budget reconciliation process.

  • The shutdown began in mid-February.
  • The Senate vote occurred around 2:30 a.m. Eastern on Friday, March 27, 2026.

The players

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader, a Republican from South Dakota.

Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader, a Democrat from New York.

Eric Schmitt

A Republican senator from Missouri.

Andy Kim

A Democratic senator from New Jersey.

Susan Collins

Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a Republican from Maine.

Patty Murray

Ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a Democrat from Washington.

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What they’re saying

“They wanted reforms to Immigration and Custom Enforcement, and Republicans offered to give that to them. The White House made offer after offer putting forward a robust list of additional reforms. And Democrats just kept moving the goal posts, and today they just walked away.”

— John Thune, Senate Majority Leader

“Democrats held firm in our opposition that Donald Trump's rogue and deadly militia should not get more funding without serious reforms, and we will continue to fight for those reforms.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

“To my Democrat colleagues, this bill is the moderate option. What's coming next is going to supercharge deportations. To my Republican colleagues, let this be a rallying cry every time the Democrats obstruct the safety of American families, the wall gets 10 feet higher and ICE gets another $100 billion.”

— Eric Schmitt, Senator

“All we've been demanding here is what the American people are demanding — body-worn cameras; no masks; keeping ICE agents out of our hospitals, schools and churches; and ensuring ICE follows the same practices and procedures as local law enforcement.”

— Andy Kim, Senator

“While Republicans worked in good faith to try to reach agreement, Democrats remained intransigent and unreasonable with their list of demands.”

— Susan Collins, Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee

What’s next

It's unclear if House Speaker Mike Johnson will hold a vote on the Senate-passed DHS funding bill before the House's spring recess. President Donald Trump has not indicated whether he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.

The takeaway

The Senate's decision to exclude ICE and Border Patrol funding from the DHS bill reflects the deep partisan divide over immigration enforcement. While Democrats have pushed for reforms to these agencies, Republicans have sought to maintain or increase their funding. The fate of the bill in the House will determine whether a compromise can be reached to end the ongoing shutdown.