President Donald Trump’s signature tax-and-spending bill has delivered nearly $170 billion to the Department of Homeland Security — almost double its annual budget — powering what he calls the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. The July 4 law includes $30 billion for ICE staffing, $45 billion for detention facilities, and $10 billion for Secretary Kristi Noem’s office, plus a $46 billion, four-year border wall fund.
Homeland Security says ICE is expanding detention capacity, including at military bases like Fort Bliss. Critics in Congress — including Democrats and some Republicans — warn the law’s broad funding categories lack detail and oversight. Lawmakers also cite reports of the administration shifting up to $1 billion from other agencies, including FEMA, to cover immigration enforcement.
ICE raids are increasingly targeting communities far from the border, with new detention centers opening nationwide. While officials claim they are focusing on “the worst of the worst,” advocates and some lawmakers say many detainees’ only violation is lacking legal immigration status.
The expansion comes amid shifting public opinion: Gallup polling shows 79% of Americans now view immigration positively, up from 64% last year. Yet Trump’s approval on the issue has slipped to 43%, and images of arrests at colleges, job sites, and public spaces have fueled controversy over the scope of the crackdown.
