Senator Murray on Republicans Releasing Their Budget Resolution to Cut Another Blank Check for ICE & Border Patrol

ICYMI : On Senate Floor, Murray Talks DHS Funding-Calling on House Republicans to Stop Extending Record-Breaking Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement on the release of Republicans' budget resolution that establishes the framework for Republicans to approve $70 billion in new funding for ICE and Border Patrol on a party-line basis.

"Instead of doing literally anything to lower costs, Republicans are spending their time working hard to cut another massive blank check for ICE and Border Patrol-without any reforms, or even basic guardrails.

"After the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, people across the country demanded ICE be reined in-but instead of working with Democrats to enact real reform, Republicans rejected the most basic accountability measures, and now they're rushing to give ICE billions of dollars more.

"Families want relief from sky-high prices, not more of their tax dollars thrown at a rogue agency that doesn't respect their rights. Republicans are moving heaven and earth to cut yet another blank check for ICE, but they won't put a cent toward making health care or housing more affordable."

Last summer, Republicans in Congress approved over $190 billion for the Department of Homeland Security in their Big Ugly Bill. That included over $162 billion in immigration enforcement and border-related funding, including $75 billion for ICE, $65 billion for CBP, and a $10 billion slush fund for the Secretary to use for "border support."

Republicans' budget resolution sets them up to provide an additional $70 billion in funding for DHS-without any strings attached or basic reforms to its operations.

Throughout negotiations over the fiscal year 2026 Homeland Security funding bill, Democrats made clear they would not provide more money to ICE and Border Patrol without reforms-but after weeks of tough negotiations, Republicans ultimately rejected common-sense reforms for the agencies, including reforms the White House had already agreed to.

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