Administration Touts Record-Low Encounters as New Bill Aims to Cement Border Control for Generations.
In a move poised to dramatically reshape the nation’s immigration enforcement strategy, the House of Representatives on Thursday passed President Donald Trump’s aptly named “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” greenlighting billions more in funding for border security and interior immigration enforcement. The landmark legislation now heads to the President’s desk, signaling a significant victory for the administration and border hawk groups.
The House vote, a tight 218 to 214, saw nearly universal Republican support, with only two GOP lawmakers, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, siding with Democrats in opposition.
READ: Rebellion On The “Big, Beautiful Bill”: Trump Calls Out PA, KY Republicans
Proponents of the bill hailed its passage as a critical step in solidifying border security for years to come. Joe Chatham, director of government relations for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, emphasized the long-term impact.
“The legislation passed by Congress today is critical to ensuring that our borders will remain secure beyond the current administration and that the millions of illegal aliens now in the country will be removed,” Chatham stated.
The bill allocates over $60 billion for border security infrastructure, a substantial portion of which – more than $46 billion – is earmarked for wall construction and barrier systems. This includes plans for 701 miles of primary wall, 900 miles of river barriers, and nearly 630 miles of secondary barriers, alongside the replacement of over 140 miles of existing pedestrian and vehicle barriers.
READ: Guadalupe River Overwhelms Camp Mystic As Devastating Floods Claim 27 Lives
Beyond physical barriers, the legislation also prioritizes manpower, funding 5,000 new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, and 200 new Air and Marine Operations agents.
This robust funding arrives as the Trump administration celebrates what it calls “historical progress” in border security.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced the lowest nationwide encounters and apprehensions of migrants in history for June, with CBP reporting just 25,243 encounters – the lowest in the agency’s history. This follows a groundbreaking May, where not a single illegal migrant was reportedly released into the U.S., a stark contrast to the 62,000 released in May 2024.
READ: Florida Democratic Lawmakers Denied Entry To “Alligator Alcatraz” Immigration Facility
However, not everyone celebrated the bill’s passage. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries sharply criticized the legislation, warning that if enacted, the “Big, Beautiful Bill” would “unleash” a “deportation machine” on steroids.
Conversely, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons expressed immense gratitude for the “unprecedented” funding.
“ICE is grateful to President Trump for putting in the hard work necessary to get the Big Beautiful Bill across the finish line – but the real win is for the American people,” Lyons stated. He added that the funding would empower ICE officers and agents to “continue making America safe again by identifying, arresting, and removing criminal aliens from our communities.”
With the bill now signed by President Trump, the nation braces for a new era of significantly bolstered immigration enforcement.
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