Senate Republicans approve budget measure, teeing up bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol

Senate Republicans voted early Thursday morning to approve a budget measure to unlock the path to fund ICE and Border Patrol without any Democratic votes.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans voted early Thursday morning to approve a budget measure that would pave the way for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol funding without any Democratic support.

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The vote was 50-48 after a marathon session last night. GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., joined Democrats in voting against passage of the resolution.

The budget has no force of law on its own, but it instructs committees to begin drafting a bill to authorize $70 billion in funds for ICE and Border Patrol while bypassing a filibuster.