Senate Republicans are moving forward with a budget resolution that could provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with up to $140 billion in new funding, according to an April 22 statement from the Senate Budget Committee. Data from the Office of Management and Budget's SF-133 reports shows that as of the end of March, ICE and CBP have more than $103 billion in unobligated funding remaining from the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last July.
The discussion comes at a time when concerns about government spending priorities are prominent. The availability of significant unused funds raises questions about whether additional appropriations are necessary while other national needs remain unmet.
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, said, “As the American people beg Congress to focus on lowering the cost of gas or to make their weekly groceries more affordable, Republicans are choosing to ignore them. While ICE and CBP sit on over $100 billion that they received in the Republican Big, Ugly Betrayal Bill last summer, Republicans are now moving to throw upwards of $140 billion more at these agencies rather than work to bring down costs for working families. And as Republicans claim that they plan to only spend about $70 billion for this bill, every penny could be better spent elsewhere – like paying more than 250,000 teachers for four years.”
Merkley continued: “Republicans are championing a vision of our country with lawless federal agents, where families lose and billionaires win. As Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, I will fight further unchecked power and blank checks to Trump’s secret police and continue to focus on hardworking families.”
According to committee staff calculations using monthly OMB data published through SF-133 reports—which track budget authority by Treasury Account Fund Symbol numbers—substantial mandatory unobligated balances remain available for both agencies since passage of Public Law 119-21.
Observers will watch how debate unfolds as lawmakers consider whether new allocations should proceed before existing resources have been obligated.
