Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in an interview Monday it was a “safe bet” the GOP’s party-line immigration enforcement bill won’t move until Republicans get assurances on the new “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that could be used by the Justice Department to pay allegedly persecuted allies of President Donald Trump.
Thune said he is in talks with the Trump administration about securing those assurances.
“We’re in discussions and have been with them for a while now, so hope to have more on that soon,” Thune said when asked if he had gotten any indication the administration was going to propose changes to the $1.8 billion fund.
Senate GOP leaders delayed action on the immigration enforcement bill late last month after dozens of Republican members objected to the fund. Leaders believe several GOP senators would vote to include language in the bill that restricts the fund or blocks it entirely.
