House Republicans Steamroll Democrats in Race to Fund Mass Deportations
Speaker Mike Johnson said it would pass by Memorial Day. It might beat that deadline
WASHINGTON — When House Speaker Mike Johnson said not but a month ago that he wanted the Reconciliation Package—Trump’s “one beautiful bill”—to be voted on and passed by Memorial Day, most of us reporters rolled our eyes and smirked. With a House that could only afford to lose four Republicans, and many on the far-right fringe complaining the tax cuts weren’t extreme enough, it seemed Johnson faced an uphill battle to make the Memorial Day deadline.
Anyone familiar with the Congressional schedule knows Congress isn’t even in session on Memorial Day, May 26. Realistically, the bill needs to hit the floor and pass by May 22 at the latest. For that to happen, the Speaker would have to keep Congress in Washington until the bill passed—somehow, some way.
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As of now, we’re just under three weeks from that deadline. In the first week—April 28 to May 1—all the major committees were scheduled to release their budget proposals and hold markups (hearings and debates). These markups involved serious debate over the details, votes on amendments, and final approval within the committee before the proposals are bundled together into one holistic, “big beautiful” budget reconciliation package.
One unusual feature this time around: unlike most reconciliation bills where committees are instructed to cut spending, several—especially Homeland Security and Judiciary—have been pressured to increase their budgets. In some cases, by three or four times the expected amount. That pressure seems to have paid off.
On Monday, April 28, both the Homeland Security and Armed Services Committees released their budget proposals. By early the next morning, their markups were well underway and wrapped up by end of day. Not a single change was made to the original proposals. They were swept through with stunning speed. Democrats were left gasping, invoking heaven and hell, as every amendment they proposed was shot down without debate.
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The Armed Services Committee allocated $5 billion to immigration enforcement through Border Patrol. Homeland, meanwhile, allocated between $45 billion and $69 billion, depending on whom you ask—Committee Chair Mark Green (R-TN) or Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL). You’ll get different answers, too, about what the money is actually for. Green says it’s for ICE raids and improved border technology. Ramirez claims it will be used to deport U.S. citizens to foreign prisons. Homeland’s 8-page budget proposal—simple, vague, inconclusive—doesn’t help clarify. Both lawmakers could be right. But we won’t know until the bill passes. Philosophizing about it won’t get us anywhere.
Even before Homeland’s markup was complete, Judiciary had already dropped their proposal: a massive 116-page document allocating $81 billion to immigration-related spending. Along with new fees on visas and other immigration mechanisms, the proposal was even more ambiguous than Homeland’s. Wednesday’s nine-hour markup was another blow to Democrats, who failed once again to amend or soften the bill before it moved to the floor.
In just three days, the core immigration allocations—ranging from $175 billion for Homeland and Judiciary alone, potentially ballooning to $521 billion if other committees get involved—were proposed, deliberated (briefly), and passed through committee. At this rate, Johnson might not need to wait for Memorial Day at all.
There’s been plenty of outrage over the Reconciliation Bill—especially the enormous tax cuts and the gutting of services like Medicaid. Democrats have proposed hundreds of amendments that would have rendered the bill practically meaningless. But House Republicans, despite their many internal disagreements, have held the line. Unlike the chaotic infighting of the Trump administration, these Congressional Republicans seem to know their time is limited—and they’re pushing through every bill they can with surgical speed and relentless force.
Last week marks one of the most productive and resolute weeks yet for Republicans intent on funneling money into immigration enforcement and anything remotely connected to it. As for Democrats, they’re not just being left behind—they’re being obliterated. The reconciliation package strikes at the heart of their platform: social services and welfare. It will take time to fully understand what this bill means for both parties, but the consequences are already beginning to show.