U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a South Texas Democrat whose district includes parts of San Antonio, voted with Republicans Thursday to approve additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a $64 billion package.
The spending bill allocates that total amount to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including $10 billion specifically for ICE. The vote in the Republican-controlled U.S. House came despite rising furor over the agency’s aggressive enforcement actions in Minneapolis and other metros.
The spending bill passed the House on a 220-207 vote. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote against the measure.
“The House passed this bill because it delivers results,” Cuellar said in a statement after the vote. “It is not perfect, but it imposes real oversight, secures real funding, and produces real outcomes for our communities.”
Cuellar defended his vote by arguing the bill also funds cybersecurity infrastructure, delivers $32 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), invests billions in training and equipment for firefighters and first responders, secures the border and protects houses of worship through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
“This is what governing looks like,” Cuellar continued. “Passing this bipartisan compromise ensures these investments and oversight measures take effect. The alternative would have delivered none of them.”
In remarks on the House floor, Cuellar argued the choice was between funding this bill or potentially shutting down the government. The funding measures now move to the Senate, which must act by 30 January to avoid a partial government shutdown.
The six other democrats who voted for the measure were Jared Golden (Maine), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington), Laura Gillen (New York), Don Davis (North Carolina), Tom Suozzi (New York) and Vicente Gonzalez (Texas).
ICE is already the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency, surpassing even the U.S. Marines, a military branch.
Indeed, funding made available through last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE now has more funding than all federal law enforcement agencies combined, according to nonpartisan policy institute the Brennan Center for Justice.
In addition to $10 billion earmarked for ICE, Thursday’s bill provides billions in funding for the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, the Disaster Relief Fund and other programs and agencies.
Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
