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US President Donald Trump at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. / AP·Yonhap

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a $70 billion budget bill (about ₩106.78 trillion) to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol, Reuters reported on June 9 (local time).

According to Reuters, the bill was narrowly approved in a Republican-led vote, 214 to 212.

The Republican-controlled Senate had already passed the same bill on June 5. The budget now awaits only the signature of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Earlier this year, two U.S. citizens were killed in Minnesota during a shooting involving immigration enforcement officers, sparking conflict between Republicans and Democrats over reforming immigration enforcement agencies.

Republicans have pushed for stronger border security, while Democrats have demanded reforms and raised human rights concerns.

During this dispute, some departments under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, experienced a partial shutdown lasting 76 days.

Subsequently, the DHS budget excluding ICE and Border Patrol funding was processed first.

Republican leadership had planned to pass the budget before June 1. However, President Trump delayed the process by requesting $1 billion (about ₩1.52 trillion) for White House ballroom security and $1.8 billion (about ₩2.74 trillion) for an “anti-weaponization fund.”

The ballroom security budget was ultimately removed from the final bill, and Republicans rejected the amendment for the anti-weaponization fund. The U.S. administration has since stated that the fund will no longer be pursued.

Reuters explained that the passage of this budget signals the Trump administration’s intent to maintain a hardline immigration policy until the end of its term. The secured funds are expected to lead to ICE personnel expansion, increased investment in Border Patrol equipment and technology, and strengthened immigration enforcement.

                                                                                                            Park Jin-sook