This week, President Donald Trump signed the Secure America Act into law – sweeping legislation that fully funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol through the end of his term. The development is a major victory for Republicans and a stinging defeat for Democrats following a protracted effort earlier this year to stop the Trump administration’s border security and deportation agenda.
The Secure America Act provides $70 billion in funding for Border Patrol and ICE over the next three years, meaning that Democrats can no longer block funding for those agencies as a means to extract policy concessions – a tactic they have repeatedly relied on early in Trump’s second term. The bill specifically provides $38 billion for ICE, $26 billion for Border Patrol, and $5 billion for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contingency funding.
The funding package includes resources for personnel pay, continued border security operations, and ongoing funding for border wall construction. It also expands funding for DHS investigations to strengthen efforts to combat human trafficking and drug smuggling networks, while providing more resources to identify, detain, and deport criminal illegal immigrants. Additional investments include body cameras, protective equipment, uniforms, and technological upgrades, including drones and detection devices for ICE and CBP.
President Trump touted the measure as a major victory for American sovereignty and national security. “I’m thrilled to sign the Secure America Act to immediately and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of my term, so we won’t have that to be talking about anymore.”
He continued, “We’ll give the heroes of ICE and Border Patrol – and that’s what they are, they’re heroes, what they have to go through to keep us safe – the support and resources they need to defend our borders, protect our homeland and to keep America safe.”
Every Democrat in Congress voted against the Secure America Act, underscoring unified opposition to the legislation and a broader rejection of border security policy and immigration enforcement.
“As long as Republicans are in charge, there will be agents at our borders to prevent terrorists, traffickers, and other dangerous individuals from making their way into our country, and there will be agents to take criminal illegal immigrants off our streets,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said. “I wish I could say the same of my Democrat colleagues.”
The legislation follows the longest DHS funding lapse in U.S. history earlier this year. Beginning on February 14, Democrats blocked funding for DHS by weaponizing the Senate filibuster rule. Democrats demanded major concessions to reopen the agency, including banning ICE officers from wearing masks even as law enforcement agents were seeing an all-time high in threats against them and banning immigration enforcement operations near a long list of “sensitive” locations like schools and hospitals – and polling places.
Democrats infamously admitted that their shutdown of DHS was “making people hurt,” but said they were “very serene” about their strategy. After 75 days, Republicans agreed to pass a DHS funding bill without any funding for ICE. However, the agency was flush with cash thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill passed last year, and so it saw no slowdown in operations.
The Secure America Act is the culmination of that saga. Ultimately, Democrats received nothing that they asked for. ICE now has even more funding than it would have had Democrats passed the full DHS funding bill back in February. Republicans made no concessions to Democrats on ICE policy, and the agency will continue to be free to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.
Lillian Ferrell is a senior at Hillsdale College studying English and music. She has experience in journalism and podcasting as the host of the Grace Over Grind podcast. Her written work focuses on American politics, culture, and public policy.
At the end of the article –
“Ultimately, Democrats received nothing that they asked for,”
and
“Republicans made no concessions to Democrats….”
Music to my ears, and balm for my soul. Let’s have more of that, shall we?
One of the most famous quotes by a Democratic leader was ” Ask not what your country can do for you. But what you can do for your for your country”. Modern day Democrats have lost all sight of this.
Till 2029 when the new president takes over. If it’s a communist this will be dropped on the first day. Our taxes will rise to take care of the millions of illegals that will come into this country. People I urge you vote Republican before we are America no more but a communist stronghold.
I am very pleased to see that the author is a student from Hillsdale College.
Border security is the government responsibility, they like to stick their noses in every nook and cranny of our lives, but the most important they ignore, how insane is it? they refuse their duty, when it comes to the security and safety of it’s citizens ,everywhere else they would be dealt with according to the law, how did they get this immunity, they refuse to do their duty and help the criminal on top of it all, what are we electing ?
Given the crime, violence, harm to people, deaths by drug use for their profit, and the cost to Americans whose taxes pay for this, a wise and needed legislation is long past due. Dems who ‘hate’ this are not America focused, but on self and the perks and gains from elected office.
Citizens are asking in more and more venues, where did elected representation to the public go, and since it falls on one party, laws are needed for many things U:
These and other costs are borne by American citizens, must stop, and Congress must act! Voices of mega Americans who have reached and passed their limit on tolerance.
Get it done, Mr. President!
Just in time. It’s good to have it in place, so that we don’t end up with attempted beheading like they recently had in Ireland.
America’s despicable enemies within, the DemoRATS are against ANYTHING that is GOOD FOR AMERICA and GOOD FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
And EVERYTHING that is BAD FOR AMERICA and the AMERICAN PEOPLE they want, support, defend and love.
Security of the country is a responsibility of the government, why “democrats” have problem with that I don’t know, they should explain their treachery so we the rubes can understand .
Well, if democrats get back in power, it will all be for nothing. Dear God save us from that happening.
It’s not codified into permanent law unless Congress creates and passes legislation for it.
Great article, so happy President Trump got the Secure America Act passed…he has worked tirelessly to keep our borders safe, and ICE and Border patrol funded! They are the heroes who work against the hired evil people that are trying to destroy America! ????
Oh goody. Now can we pass the Election bill the same way?!?
President Trump consistently does wonderful things of which this is one example. However, none of these successes matter unless Republicans retain control of the House and Senate. From news I see, chances of that are getting slimmer daily. Prices need to go down and the war in Iran ended or Trump’s term will only be for the first two years. Dems are determined to reverse his accomplishments and take us back to the Biden/Obama dark ages.
YES!
May the agencies use the funds WISELY.
Finally the Republicans in Congress stood up to the Dems demands for once. And the Dems got outsmarted in the process. WHAT AWESOME NEWS!!!
Now Republicans, do the same thing for the SAVE Act that you’re sitting on in the Senate!!!! PASS IT!
Awesome!
This is temporary. When the communists regain federal power, this will be reversed.
Great! Now pass the Save America Act! ????????????
How the democrats voted should tell us ALL what we need to know.
Great! Keep doing what you’re doing President Trump.
Great news! Can you just imagine what the democrats did to the working people, who did not get paid, and many had to quit their jobs just to feed their family. How this current democrat party can even get one vote, is beyond my comprehension.
So thankful for President Trump. And beyond people not paid, what about the awful inconvenience that we the people faced at airports and other departments, the air traffic control people. Democrat voters may have short memories, lets hope the rest of us do not, and be sure to VOTE
Does this mean that border patrol was not funded during Biden term & what was status of ICE funding at that time? And this funding should be done via the Legislative branch and not by Executive orders by party in the WH at the time.