House Republicans passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill Tuesday afternoon, sending President Donald Trump an early gift ahead of his 80th birthday.The House voted 214-212 to pass the Secure America Act, with all Democrats opposing the measure. Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA), who caucuses with Republicans, also voted no.The spending bill would fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which were left out of a Department of Homeland Security funding bill earlier this year. The passage of the second GOP-led reconciliation bill comes just days before Trump’s 80th birthday on Sunday, when he will host a UFC fight on the White House’s South Lawn.
Kiley told reporters ahead of the vote he was leaning no on the spending measure over disappointment that there have not been “meaningful bipartisan reforms to interior immigration enforcement.”
“I think that we need to restore trust and public confidence, and make sure that the mission of the agency is focused, and so I’m disappointed that we haven’t seen a bipartisan agreement along those lines,” Kiley said.
There was minimal Republican infighting in getting the measure across the finish line. However, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Wahlberg (R-MI) was briefly a no vote before flipping to yes. Wahlberg was seen by reporters talking to several members of leadership on the House floor, including Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI). It is unclear what the members were discussing.
