On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Secure America Act to fund U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The roughly $70 billion package will fund the two agencies through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. The Republican-led effort passed 214-212.
Several of Alabama’s lawmakers praised the act as a victory for border security and immigration control.
"Securing our border and enforcing our immigration laws are fundamental responsibilities of the federal government,” U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) said. “This legislation provides critical funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help restore order at the border after years of crisis caused by the Biden administration. Democrats have pushed efforts to defund the police for years. Now, many of them are opposing funding for law enforcement at the border. For the well-being of our nation, CBP and ICE agents deserve the resources necessary to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
“A nation without borders is not a nation at all. This bill strengthens our ability to stop illegal immigration, combat human trafficking and drug smuggling, and protect American communities. I look forward to seeing it being signed into law.”
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) said on X, “The Secure America Act just passed the House and is headed to the President’s desk. This is critical legislation that will fund CBP and ICE through 2029. Republicans are delivering on their commitment to secure America's borders.”
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) said, “Democrats spent months attempting to block the resources needed to fully implement President Trump’s successful border security agenda and force concessions that would weaken immigration enforcement. This legislation rejects those efforts and ensures the President’s agenda can move forward without future Democrat obstruction, delivering the personnel, technology, detention capacity, and operational support needed to accelerate removals, target criminal illegal aliens, strengthen border security, and build on the progress already achieved under President Trump’s leadership.
U.S Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) voted against the package, calling it a “blank check” for ICE.
“I just voted NO on Republicans' partisan budget bill,” she said. “Alabama families need relief, not another blank check for ICE. This bill does nothing to lower costs, nothing to strengthen health care, and nothing to improve the lives of the people I represent.”
The bill now heads to Trump's desk to await his signature.
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