WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans cleared a first hurdle on Thursday as they are trying to pass legislation to fund President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies, narrowly rejecting a Democratic effort to permanently block Trump from creating a $1.776 billion settlement fund for allies who claim they were persecuted by the government. Republicans still face a gauntlet of Democratic amendments before the bill can advance, setting up a daylong test of party unity. More votes on the settlement fund are planned, including proposals from Republicans, and it was unclear if GOP leaders would be able to beat them all back and pass the legislation. “I can’t predict how it comes out,” Thune told reporters between discussions with some of the holdouts off the Senate floor. After defeating the first amendment, senators began voting on a second amendment from Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina that would also ban the settlement fund but would move the money to a separate anti-fraud fund at the Department of Justice.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Democrats also plan to force votes on the tax immunity granted to Trump as part of the settlement and a host of other issues — including Trump’s East Wing ballroom project, his tariffs, his war with Iran and his immigration enforcement campaign.“Amendment after amendment, vote after vote, Republicans are going to have to answer to the American people,” Schumer said.
