A $4.6 billion emergency funding bill to alleviate a massive surge of illegal immigration cleared Congress after House Democratic leaders backed down on efforts to block any money for border security.
The measure, which provides mostly humanitarian aid to migrants plus additional funds for the military and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, heads to President Trump’s desk for his signature.
It passed on Thursday with mostly Republican support.
House Democrats had little room to negotiate for liberal provisions after a Senate measure that excluded them passed the upper chamber overwhelmingly Wednesday by a vote of 84-8.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi secured a promise from Vice President Mike Pence, negotiating on behalf of Trump, that the administration would provide additional resources for migrant children detained on the border.
But the California Democrat had to surrender many other liberal provisions not included in the Senate bill, among them the elimination of additional funding for ICE, the agency that pursues, detains, and deports illegal immigrants and for the military, which has sent troops to the border to deter the influx of illegal immigrants.
“As the senate bill passes if it does,” Pelosi said before the vote. “It will not be the end of this debate. It will be the battle cry as to how we go forward to protect children and how we honor their dignity and worth.”
Democrats used the debate to blame Trump for the crisis on the border, arguing he exacerbated the problem by not providing adequate services.
Trump requested the funding more than two months ago but it has stalled over partisan differences.
They argued the Senate should have passed a House bill Democrats approved on Tuesday that provided funds and included the liberal provisions.
Among those provisions were new requirements and accountability for the treatment of illegal immigrants.
They are not included in the Senate bill.
“We could have done better for our children and our families, but unfortunately the White House and the Senate would not allow that,” House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey of New York said.
Republicans backed the Senate bill. The ICE funding will pay agents for overtime spent dealing with the crisis.
“This is a real crisis and this bill provides funds for all those who are representing us and are working without adequate pay,” Rep. Kay Granger, of Texas, who is the top Republican on the spending panel, said. “We are out of time.”
Many liberals refused to back the bill. They argued the House should stand firm on the liberal provisions and blamed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
But McConnell allowed a vote on the House-passed bill, along with its liberal provisions. It was soundly defeated on Wednesday.
