Senate Passes Bill Boosting ICE Budget, Expands Detention Capacity

President Donald Trump's administration is set to dramatically increase spending on immigration enforcement through the massive budget bill known as the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' recently approved by the Senate with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking a tie. The bill allocates roughly $170 billion to immigration enforcement efforts, including $45 billion for ICE detention facilities and $59 billion for Customs and Border Patrol to expand border walls and personnel, significantly surpassing current budgets. This funding surge will allow ICE to expand its detention capacity from 41,000 to 116,000 beds and hire thousands more agents, fueling a rapid escalation in mass deportations and intensified enforcement tactics that have already drawn criticism for their harshness. Democrats have largely avoided addressing the bill's immigration provisions publicly, despite growing concern among immigrant advocates and some party members over the unpopular crackdown. While the bill faces bipartisan pushback partly due to its projected $3.3 trillion deficit increase over the next decade, the Trump administration views the expanded enforcement budget as a key priority to maintain its tough stance on immigration. In addition to immigration issues, the bill also includes funding to modernize the Coast Guard's Arctic icebreaker fleet, signaling a broader national security focus within the legislation.