The US Senate has voted to advance an immigration spending bill after Senate Republicans removed $1 billion earmarked for President Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom. This funding was intended for security upgrades following a shooting incident at a gala Trump attended. Trump has maintained that the ballroom is essential for hosting official state functions and has claimed it would be financed through private donations. The Senate's decision, passed with a 53-45 vote, allows for approximately $72 billion to be allocated for immigration agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Democrats opposed the ballroom funding, arguing it should not be tied to immigration legislation, a position supported by the Senate rule-keeper. The bill's progress, which had been stalled for months, faced additional delays due to Republican objections to a proposed 'anti-weaponization fund' by the Department of Justice. Although the Department of Justice has dropped plans for this fund, Trump hinted that the idea might not be entirely abandoned. Senator Thom Tillis has indicated plans to introduce legislation to prevent the creation of such a fund.