House Committee Moves Forward with $47 Billion Border Wall Plan

On April 29, members of the House Homeland Security Committee pushed forward a set of budget reconciliation recommendations, which included a suggested $47 billion allocation for border wall construction.

The committee also authorized $5 billion for Customs and Border Protection facilities, $6 billion for agency personnel and vehicles, nearly $4 billion for technological upgrades, and $950 million for grant programs.

“It’s essential for the Republican majority to fulfill the mandate given to us by the people: to approve funding for effective border security and enforcement strategies. That’s precisely what these recommendations accomplish,” stated Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), chairman of the committee, during the meeting’s opening remarks.

Earlier this month, Congress had approved a budget outline supported by President Donald Trump. Legislators are now refining the specifics of that plan via the reconciliation process, which permits budgetary bills to pass in the Senate with a simple majority vote, bypassing the 60-vote requirement of a filibuster.

The committee voted 18–14 to forward its recommendations to the Budget Committee after dismissing numerous amendments proposed by Democrats aimed at limiting the use of funds for certain immigration enforcement actions.

Several of these amendments were introduced by Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), who accused the Trump administration and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of engaging in “unconstitutional, illegal, and inhumane activities.”

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“The administration claims to be dedicated to legal immigration, yet they are callously canceling the appointments of thousands of immigrants who are legally seeking asylum in our country,” Ramirez stated. “Trump and Noem have even unjustly denied young children, including toddlers undergoing cancer treatment, their fundamental right to have legal representation in immigration proceedings.”

These comments followed reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers recently deporting three Honduran women, who took their young U.S. citizen children with them.

One rejected amendment proposed by Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) sought to prevent the administration from utilizing the suggested Homeland Security funding to deport minors who are U.S. citizens. Other proposed changes included provisions that would bar the use of funds for deporting individuals without due process or for sending U.S. citizens to foreign prisons.

“While we may not see eye to eye on everything, can we at least agree not to send U.S. citizens to suffer in foreign prisons?” Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) queried after proposing that amendment.

It’s important to note that federal law generally prohibits the deportation of U.S. citizens, with few exceptions.

Throughout the seven-hour meeting, Democrats dominated the discussion with their amendments and objections to the administration’s law enforcement strategies. However, when the committee’s leading Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), suggested that the silence of his Republican colleagues indicated their discomfort, Green interjected.

“You folks can’t tell a good guy from a bad guy!” the chairman remarked.

“During the previous administration, 13 million individuals entered this country because you completely ignored the rule of law—laws enacted by this body,” Green continued.

He expressed his amusement at the criticisms being levied.

Arjun Singh, Jackson Richman, and Joseph Lord contributed to this report.