Senate Approves Funding for Border Agencies Amid DHS Reopening Efforts

The U.S. Senate has adopted a budget plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, an initial move towards reopening the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The department has been shut down since mid-February due to disagreements over policy changes following fatal shootings involving federal agents. Republicans advanced the measure using a budget reconciliation process, which allowed them to bypass the usual 60-vote threshold in the Senate. This action proceeded despite objections from Democrats, who attempted to include amendments aimed at lowering healthcare costs.