House to vote on $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill

The U.S. House of Representatives will hold a procedural vote on a Republican-sponsored $70 billion bill that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol through the remainder of the current administration. A final vote is expected later in the day if the measure clears the initial procedural hurdle.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the legislation to pass but noted that attendance could be difficult during the primary election season. > "We have to fund border enforcement and immigration enforcement, and everybody here knows that, so they're going to have to put their personal preferences aside to get the job done," he said.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent who caucuses with Republicans, announced he will vote against the bill, citing concerns about the partisan process and calling for bipartisan reforms to interior immigration enforcement.

The Senate approved the same funding package on Friday after a marathon series of votes that removed provisions for a White House ballroom security fund and a Justice Department payout program. The legislation was passed using the budget reconciliation process, allowing it to advance with a simple majority in the Senate without Democratic support. Democrats have previously opposed funding for ICE and Border Patrol without accompanying reforms.