In a decisive early-morning victory for President Donald Trump and America First priorities, the U.S. Senate passed a $70 billion boost for immigration enforcement on Friday, arming the Department of Homeland Security to execute the president’s aggressive deportation crackdown. The 52-47 vote, with zero Democrat support and only RINO holdout Sen. Lisa Murkowski voting against, sends the measure to the House and underscores Republican resolve to secure the border despite establishment foot-dragging.
Crucially, Democrats’ frantic efforts to outlaw the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund — designed to compensate victims of Biden-era lawfare — failed completely. No amendments banning the fund advanced, exposing Democrat hysteria over holding the deep state accountable. Trump has been heroic in defending this fund after years of grotesque government abuse against Jan. 6 political prisoners, Trump electors targeted for simply doing their duty, patriotic attorneys who signed election integrity lawsuits, and countless other conservatives railroaded by weaponized federal agencies.
Senate Republican Leader John Thune called the fund a “settled issue,” pointing to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s testimony that the DOJ won’t pursue it. Trump has signaled his intent to nominate Blanche to lead the Justice Department permanently — a move that should send chills down the spines of any remaining deep state operatives. Yet even Thune admitted the confirmation won’t be easy, highlighting the swamp’s resistance to real reform.
Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, branded the fund a “slush fund” for Trump’s allies and tried to kill it via procedural maneuvers. Their temporary success in stalling the vote-a-rama, aided by weak-kneed Republicans like Susan Collins, Jon Husted, and Dan Sullivan, only revealed fractures in GOP ranks ahead of midterms. Sens. Thom Tillis and Bill Cassidy voiced concerns and offered amendments to redirect or codify limits on the fund, but both ultimately supported the underlying bill. Cassidy even teamed with far-left Sen. Cory Booker in legal filings to keep a court block in place — a disappointing display from supposed conservatives.
Republicans rightly dismissed Democrat whining. The extra funding targets ICE and Border Patrol, which Democrats tried to defund despite massive prior unspent allocations. While some debate veered into distractions like Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, the core victory stands: more resources to remove illegal migrants and protect Americans.
Trump’s unapologetic support for the anti-weaponization fund is a righteous stand for justice. After years of selective prosecutions, raids on Trump supporters, and lawfare designed to crush dissent, these victims deserve redress. The establishment’s panic proves the fund strikes at the heart of their power. House Republicans should swiftly approve the bill and reject any last-ditch attempts to gut Trump’s tools for accountability.
