Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said on April 21 that Senate Republicans plan to move forward with funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol through reconciliation, without any votes from Democrats.
Barrasso said this decision comes after more than two months of negotiations, during which he claims Democrats refused to support key law enforcement agencies. He stated, “For more than two months, Republicans negotiated in good faith to fully fund critical law enforcement agencies. Republicans are done negotiating. We are moving forward alone. Republicans are going to fund ICE and Border Patrol without a single Democrat vote. We are not going to concede a single demand to radical Senate Democrats.”
According to Barrasso, the upcoming budget resolution will provide full funding for ICE and Border Patrol for the next three years and increase resources for both agencies. He said this funding aims to enhance enforcement efforts, deport more illegal immigrant criminals, investigate drug cartels and human traffickers, and improve community safety.
Barrasso criticized Democrats for rejecting policy changes such as body cameras for agents, increased oversight of ICE spending, and additional money for deescalation training. He also addressed recent confirmation hearings involving Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin: “At his confirmation hearing, now-Secretary Mullin committed to working with Democrats on commonsense reforms to immigration enforcement. Almost every Democrat still voted against his confirmation.”
He further accused Senate Democrats of seeking measures like banning masks for ICE agents—a step he argued would make it harder for agents’ families to remain safe from threats—and suggested that these policies aim “to undermine the hiring of agents and shut it down by attrition.” Barrasso concluded his remarks by saying that under Republican leadership no illegal immigrants would be released into the country: “Republicans want ICE and Border Patrol to do their job. Republicans want law enforcement to be funded, and American citizens to be safe.”
Barrasso lives in Casper with his three children according to his official website. He chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Public Lands, Forests and Mining Subcommittee according to the same source. The website also notes Barrasso supports energy affordability policies as well as opportunities for Wyoming ranchers according to his official site. To serve constituents in Wyoming, he operates offices in several cities including Casper, Cheyenne, Riverton, Rock Springs, Sheridan as well as Washington D.C., according again.
Barrasso has previously been recognized as Wyoming Physician of the Year and served as president of the Wyoming Medical Society as reported by his official website. His legislative focus includes issues such as Wyoming’s economy, energy policy priorities including public lands management, national parks oversight along with trade matters the official website reports.
