$69.5 Billion
After a lengthy and contentious debate, Congress has approved $69.5 billion to fund operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) through the end of the current presidential term. The bill was considered through a process known as budget reconciliation, which allows for simple majority approval in the U.S. Senate rather than requiring 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles.
Passage was initially delayed over two controversial items: 1) $1 billion in funding for the ongoing construction of the White House ballroom, and 2) a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) proposal to establish a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” for payouts to those deemed unfairly prosecuted. In the end, the ballroom funding was stripped out of the bill, and the DOJ announced it is abandoning the anti-weaponization fund at the direction of the courts. With those two issues resolved for the immediate term, the U.S. Senate advanced the measure on a near party-line vote of 52-47, and the U.S. House followed suit by a vote of 214-212.
In order to be enacted, the president must now sign it into law.
Analysis and eternal perspective: The baseline provisions in this bill were already contentious (Republicans describe the funding as essential to secure the border, and Democrats assert that ICE and CBP use overly punitive tactics), but the ballroom and the anti-weaponization fund proved to be the tipping point between enactment and defeat.
The ballroom was initially planned to be completed with private dollars, which will presumably again be the goal for the White House. It remains to be seen whether the DOJ will return to its plans to establish the anti-weaponization fund.
It can be quite difficult to find your way through the competing narratives and to the heart of these issues. There are, however, some core biblical tenants to fix your eyes on as you work to do so.
On the immigration law enforcement issue, you are to pray for and respect those responsible for governing and law enforcement (1 Tim. 2:1-2: Rom. 13). You are also to show kindness to both the citizen and the foreigner in your land (Deut. 10:18-19). It is tempting to conflate the role of those governing and your role as a Jesus follower. The two do not fit neatly into either party’s political narrative.
On the issues of funding the ballroom and the anti-weaponization fund, public sentiment will tend to follow partisan lines, as well. As a Jesus follower, you should consider each on the merits rather than on which view either party is defending (Pr. 18:17).