U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, announced on April 23 that the Senate has adopted the Fiscal Year 2026 budget resolution. The measure is described as a blueprint to enable a targeted reconciliation bill that would fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The adoption of this budget resolution is significant because it paves the way for funding key immigration enforcement agencies over several years. According to Graham, “The vast majority of Republicans stuck together to do something Democrats are refusing to do: Fully fund the Border Patrol and ICE for three and a half years through the Trump presidency. As Senate Budget Committee Chairman, I am very proud of my colleagues.”
Graham said that passing this resolution allows other committees in the Senate to write a reconciliation bill allocating $70 billion for continued enforcement of immigration laws. He stated, “Adopting the budget resolution will allow the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees to write a reconciliation bill that spends $70 billion so we can continue to enforce immigration laws and have the most secure border in modern history.”
He also criticized Democrats’ approach on border security funding, saying, “Democrats’ refusal to fund ICE and Border Patrol at a time of growing threats to our nation is one of the most irresponsible decisions I’ve witnessed since I’ve been in the Senate.” Graham concluded with his outlook on next steps: “The bottom line is that Republicans in Congress are going to work with President Trump to get the job done by June 1.”
Graham has chaired the Senate Budget Committee according to his official website. He served as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves for 33 years according to his official website, represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate according to his official website, grew up in Central, South Carolina in a blue-collar family according to his official website, and earned both undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina according to his official website.
The adoption of this budget resolution marks an important step toward determining future federal spending priorities related specifically to border security.
