Senate Democrats to Force Republicans to Vote on Affordability Measures During ICE Funding Debate

Democrats say they’ll put up a litany of amendments to cut the cost of living while Republicans are focused on money for ICE and Customs and Border Protection.

Sen. Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holds a news conference about the budget process that Republicans hope will fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

As Senate Republicans move forward with passing a narrow, party-line bill to fund immigration enforcement, Democrats are planning to put Republicans on the spot with a series of votes aimed at lowering the cost of living.

Republicans plan to pass the measure, which will provide three years of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection, through reconciliation, a process that allows senators to push amendments relevant to the bill in a marathon voting session.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Wednesday that Democrats are seeking to use the “vote-a-rama” to divide Republicans and spotlight some of the GOP’s most unpopular policies by forcing a series of votes on affordability issues.