Senate Republicans Abandon $70 Billion Immigration Bill Amid Internal Conflicts and Trump Disputes

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington on Thursday without voting on a roughly $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies, citing frustrations with the White House and disagreements over a $1.776 billion settlement to compensate Trump allies who believe they were politically prosecuted.

Fractures Over White House Security and DOJ Settlement

The stalled legislation, which aimed to secure funding for immigration enforcement through the end of the Trump administration, faced immediate backlash after Senate Republicans abandoned a provision allocating $1 billion for security at the White House and President Donald Trump’s ballroom. The decision came after the Justice Department (DOJ) announced a settlement that further deepened divisions within the party.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s meeting with GOP senators on Thursday heightened tensions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that the White House should have consulted Congress before revealing the settlement, which some lawmakers argued would fund “slush funds” for Trump supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Trump’s Ballroom Funding Sparks GOP Backlash

The $1 billion security proposal for the White House complex, including the ballroom, faced criticism from within the Republican Party. Senator Mitch McConnell, the former GOP leader, called the settlement “utterly stupid, morally wrong,” accusing the DOJ of seeking to “pay people who assault cops.”

Despite Trump’s initial assertion that the ballroom would be funded privately, the Secret Service requested $220 million for security improvements related to the space. However, after Republicans abandoned the proposal, Trump claimed he “doesn’t