Republicans faced a major setback in the Senate as Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough blocked key parts of a proposed immigration enforcement funding package.

The package, aimed at fully funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol following a prolonged Department of Homeland Security shutdown, was halted because it violated Senate rules.

MacDonough cited the Byrd Rule, noting that several sections required a 60-vote threshold instead of a simple majority due to inappropriate allocations outside Homeland Security responsibilities.Specifically, $71.7 billion proposed for Customs and Border Protection and $2.5 billion for other DHS activities, including programs involving migrant children, were found to conflict with legal frameworks.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham will need to revise the package and remove or adjust these provisions before bringing it to a floor vote.

This decision represents a significant challenge for Republican senators seeking to advance their immigration enforcement priorities through reconciliation procedures.