WATCH LIVE: Senate starts voting on legislation to fund immigration enforcement after 'weaponization' fund abandoned

By — Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press By — Kevin Freking, Associated Press Kevin Freking, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-senate-starts-voting-on-legislation-to-fund-immigration-enforcement-after-weaponization-fund-abandoned Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Senate starts voting on legislation to fund immigration enforcement after 'weaponization' fund abandoned Politics Jun 3, 2026 3:48 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led Senate will start voting Wednesday on legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies after forcing the White House to drop its settlement fund for political allies and stripping a separate proposal for White House security from the bill. Watch the Senate floor in the video player above. The roughly $70 billion bill to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol was delayed for weeks as Republican senators navigated the various obstacles to passage created by President Donald Trump and the White House. They say they are now ready to move forward with the legislation, which is pared back to its original form. "Right now, the goal is to get the base bill across the finish line," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. Still, Republicans will need to find enough votes to beat back multiple amendments that Democrats — and potentially some Republicans — say they will offer. Republicans are using a process called budget reconciliation that enables them to pass the legislation without any Democratic votes, but they must first wade through a long series of amendment votes that could pose problems for the bill. Amendment votes will test GOP unity The primary threat during voting on the amendments that could begin as soon as Wednesday night is a series of expected Democratic proposals on Trump's $1.776 billion settlement fund, which his administration scrapped on Tuesday after fierce Republican pushback. While acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress that "we are not moving forward with the fund, period," Democrats say they want it written into the law. "It is only a matter of time before Blanche and Trump go back on their word," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Thune said Blanche's comments were "extremely helpful" and he thinks most GOP senators were satisfied by the decision. "We'll find out," he said. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has said he may offer an amendment to block any attempt at resurrecting that fund, which was part of a settlement resolving Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Thune said he is working with Tillis and others who have discussed amendments as he tries to ensure he has enough votes for a simple majority in the 53-47 Senate. "Keep in mind, we've got to keep them all together, make sure we've got 50 votes for it," Thune said. Money has been droppe