House Passes Bill Boosting ICE Funding, Sparking National Debate

President Donald Trump signed the 'Big Beautiful Bill' into law, which significantly increases funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and includes major tax cuts for the wealthy alongside cuts to Medicaid and food assistance. The bill allocates $170 billion toward immigration enforcement, including $45 billion for detention centers, $30 billion for ICE, and nearly $50 billion for constructing the southern border wall, making ICE's budget larger than those of the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, and DEA combined. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the legislation, warning it will lead to widespread hardship and death, describing the expansion of ICE as an 'explosion' that will make current conditions look minor and result in people disappearing. She expressed grave concern over the lack of guardrails and predicted catastrophic consequences for vulnerable populations. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons praised the bill, asserting that the increased funding will enhance public safety by enabling officers to remove criminal aliens. The bill also adds significantly to the national debt, drawing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.