By Saqib S. Qureshi
Washignton : A growing dispute among Senate Republicans is threatening a major immigration funding package tied to President Donald Trump’s border and immigration agenda.Republican Senator Thom Tillis reportedly warned party leaders he would oppose the nearly $72 billion reconciliation package if it includes $1 billion connected to security upgrades around Trump’s planned White House ballroom project.
The broader package is designed to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol operations and other Homeland Security priorities for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.
According to reports, the proposed funding includes about $220 million for “White House complex hardening,” including security systems tied to the ballroom project such as bulletproof glass, drone detection systems and chemical filtration technology. Another $180 million would support a new White House visitor screening center, while the remaining funds would go toward Secret Service training and presidential security operations.
Several Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Rick Scott, have reportedly raised concerns about the scale and justification of the request.
The controversy intensified after Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that the ballroom-related provision could not move forward under Senate reconciliation rules in its current form, forcing Republicans to revise parts of the package.
Democrats have sharply criticized the proposal, arguing taxpayer money should not be connected to Trump’s ballroom project during a period of economic pressure and rising government spending debates.