Duckworth Slams Senate GOP After Vote To Boost ICE And Border Patrol Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to gift Donald Trump’s ICE and Border Patrol an additional $70 billion without any guardrails or reforms but refused to help Americans suffering from soaring costs as a direct result of Trump’s illegal war and other disastrous policies. The GOP reconciliation bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-47.

“Americans are getting pummeled by sky-high costs thanks to Donald Trump—and Republicans couldn’t care less. Instead of fighting to lower energy and grocery bills for their constituents, Senate Republicans spent all day and night fighting to bankroll Trump’s out-of-control lawless agents who killed two Americans in broad daylight.

“In Republicans’ extreme reconciliation bill, the American people would get nothing while ICE and Border Patrol get another $70 billion blank check—on top of the $100 billion included in Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill—without any reforms, guardrails or protections. Republicans refused to support Democrats’ efforts to lower housing and health care costs, but fought to protect Trump’s $2 billion slush fund to pay out violent insurrectionists who assaulted police officers and his other lackies who broke the law. And while American taxpayers continue footing the bill for Trump’s self-created economic crisis, Republicans are just fine letting Donald Trump’s family get away with tax fraud.

“Republicans showed their true priorities. It’s Donald Trump first, America last—every damn time.”