LEXINGTON, Ky. — The U.S. Senate took the first step Thursday toward reopening the Department of Homeland Security by adopting a $70 billion budget plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, according to Lex 18 News. The measure passed 50-48 early Thursday morning after an overnight voting session, sending the framework to the House for consideration.

The entire Department of Homeland Security has remained shut down since mid-February after Democrats demanded policy changes following fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents. Republicans are using the budget reconciliation process, which requires only a simple majority and bypasses the typical 60-vote threshold needed for most legislation, to advance the plan without Democratic support.

The move mirrors tactics Republicans employed to pass President Donald Trump's tax and spending cuts last year. "We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America's borders are secure," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Democrats argued the legislation neglects broader concerns about the shutdown. "Instead of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans should be working with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket costs," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Democrats proposed amendments throughout the night-long voting session focused on reducing healthcare expenses.

The $70 billion plan would fund the two immigration enforcement agencies through Trump's term. However, the process faces potential obstacles. House Republicans have indicated they will not consider bipartisan legislation to fund the rest of the department until progress is shown on ICE and Border Patrol funding. Some House Republicans have also pushed to add unrelated items to the bill, including funding for farmers and Trump's SAVE America Act voter verification legislation.

The Senate previously passed bipartisan legislation in March that would have funded the remainder of the department, including the Transportation Security Administration, but House Republicans refused to consider it without immigration enforcement funding included.

Senate Majority Leader Thune warned that other departmental functions may run out of money before the lengthy reconciliation process concludes, urging the House to move quickly on both measures.