Senate passes bill to fund ICE, Border Patrol

The Senate passed legislation early Friday that, if made law, would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the end of President Donald Trump's second term. The legislation passed on a 52-47 vote along party lines after weeks of delays. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to vote against the funding, while Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., did not vote. Murkowski did not vote in favor of the bill because it used the budget reconciliation process, she told NBC News. The process allowed senators to advance legislation related to taxes and spending with only a simple majority vote while bypassing a possible filibuster.

Additionally, the senators passed the legislation in a marathon ritual known as a vote-a-rama, where the legislators can offer up unlimited amendments. Following its passage, the bill heads to the House.

What all did the bill include? The bill includes $38.6 billion for ICE, $22.6 billion for the Border Patrol, and an additional $5 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Homeland Security. It did not include security funding for the White House ballroom.

Senators also passed $108.5 million in funding for combatting child sexual trafficking and exploitation. The provision was spearheaded by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who said the money would allow the DHS to hire 200 new child exploitation investigators and analysts. The funding marked the biggest-ever escalation of the federal government’s fight against child trafficking, Hawley said. Former American football quarterback Tim Tebow also championed the provision.

Dig deeper: Read Joanna Insco’s report on what caused the weeks of delays for the bill.