Trump endorses funding ICE and Border Patrol in GOP-only bill

President Trump on Wednesday endorsed funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol through the special budget reconciliation process that allows Republicans to fund the agencies without needing Democratic support, setting a June 1 deadline for the bill.

His endorsement effectively puts him on the side of a two-track plan that the Senate had passed last week but that was rejected by House Republicans, who felt blindsided and were wary of splitting up funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The department has been shut down for a record 47 days.

Trump made a post on Truth Social on Wednesday calling for the GOP-only process to fund ICE and Border Patrol but did not mention how the other parts of the Department of Homeland Security would be funded.

“We are going forward to fund our incredible ICE Agents and Border Patrol through a process that doesn’t need Radical Left Democrat votes, and bypasses the Senate Filibuster (which should be repealed, IMMEDIATELY!), working in close conjunction with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Leader John Thune,” he wrote in a lengthy post, referencing the budget reconciliation process that bypasses the Senate’s 60-vote threshold and the need for Republicans to get support from Democrats in the chamber.

“We are going to work as fast, and as focused, as possible to replenish funding for our Border and ICE Agents, and the Radical Left Democrats won’t........

© The Hill