US Senate approves $70 billion for ICE to curb immigration

The US Senate voted Friday to support $70 billion in funding to implement Donald Trump's immigration policy. The vote came after heated debates, revealing deep rifts within the Republican Party over the president's controversial proposals.

The US Senate confirmed Friday a massive $70 billion funding package intended to implement Donald Trump's immigration policy and designed to expand the activities of the federal immigration enforcement agency ICE in particular.

The vote was preceded by lengthy debates over several amendments through which the opposition sought to modify the package. The process vividly highlighted disagreements within the Republican Party regarding the president's numerous other controversial policy proposals.

The funding represents one of the largest appropriations to an immigration enforcement agency in US history and enables ICE to significantly expand its personnel, detention capacity, and border patrol operational capabilities. Critics have warned that directing such a large sum to a single enforcement agency could result in human rights violations.