ACLU Issues Statement on
Senate Vote to Add $70 Billion to
ICE and Border Patrol's Bloated Budget
WASHINGTON – (ACLU) -- 7/5/26 -- The Senate passed a reconciliation bill today that would provide an additional $70 billion in taxpayer funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol without any meaningful reforms to limit violent and abusive tactics by federal agents.
The vote comes after a months-long standoff between members of Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), prompting Republicans in Congress to bypass normal Congressional procedures and use an obscure hyper partisan process called reconciliation. In July 2025, Congress also used the reconciliation process to give DHS over $170 billion in immigration enforcement funding – $150 billion of which remains unused, according to a recent analysis.
In response to this news, Kate Voigt, senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, had the following reaction:
“Once again, President Trump’s allies in Congress are bypassing normal Congressional procedures to strong-arm billions more in taxpayer dollars to fuel ICE and Border Patrol’s assault on our communities. Instead of passing commonsense reforms to rein in ICE abuses or funding programs that would actually help American families, the Senate is choosing to add $70 billion to ICE and Border Patrol’s already bloated budget.
“Make no mistake: a vote in favor of more ICE and Border Patrol funding is a vote to prioritize President Trump’s cruel mass deportation agenda. We now call on our House Representatives to hold the line and say no to any more funding for these abusive agencies that have killed and attacked our neighbors, demanded people show their papers based on the color of their skin, and tear thousands of families apart. The safety of our communities and our freedom depend on it.”
