Republicans Fail To Eliminate Schumer Earmark For Immigrant Nonprofit

A $500,000 earmark for a New York City-based nonprofit that assists immigrants remains in a government funding package after a failed GOP amendment.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:47pm

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A group of conservative Republican senators failed to strip a $500,000 earmark to the New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) nonprofit secured by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a government funding package. The amendment was tabled in a 58-42 vote, with 11 Republican senators joining Democrats to preserve the earmark for the New York City-based organization that provides legal education and workforce programs to noncitizens.

Why it matters

The vote highlighted the ongoing debate over earmarks and federal funding for programs that assist undocumented immigrants, with Republicans arguing taxpayer money should not support "illegals" while Democrats defended the appropriations process and Schumer's right to secure funding for his constituents.

The details

The amendment was sponsored by Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee and would have removed the $500,000 earmark for NICE, a nonprofit that offers legal education and workforce programs to noncitizens. Every Democratic senator voted to table Lee's amendment, which was also opposed by 11 Republican senators, many of whom sit on the appropriations panel.

  • The Senate voted 58-42 to table Lee's amendment on January 30, 2026.
  • The Senate is expected to approve the overall bipartisan spending agreement on January 30, 2026.

The players

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader who secured the $500,000 earmark for NICE in the government funding package.

Mike Lee

The Republican senator from Utah who sponsored the amendment to strip the NICE earmark from the funding bill.

New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE)

A New York City-based nonprofit that provides legal education and workforce programs to noncitizens and was the recipient of the $500,000 earmark.

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What they’re saying

“This is an organization that serves immigrants who are here illegally. Why should the American taxpayer foot the bill to support illegals in sanctuary cities when so many American citizens are struggling themselves?”

— Rick Scott, Republican Senator from Florida

“This amendment would strike funding for one member's project simply because the senator offering amendment doesn't like the project. That is not how this process should work.”

— Patty Murray, Democratic Senator from Washington

What’s next

The Senate is expected to approve the overall bipartisan spending agreement, which will also temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks while Democrats and the White House negotiate reforms to immigration enforcement.

The takeaway

The vote highlighted the ongoing partisan divide over federal funding for programs that assist undocumented immigrants, with Republicans arguing against using taxpayer money to support "illegals" and Democrats defending the appropriations process and members' ability to secure funding for their constituents.