Senate Approves $600 Million for more Border Security

Jim Abrams writes for the Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Senate agreed Thursday to add $600 million to the effort to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants across the U.S. Mexican border.
The money would be used for such purposes as adding 1,500 new enforcement agents and deploying unpiloted aerial drones to improve border surveillance.

The voice vote to pass the emergency spending came in the final hours before the Senate leaves for its monthlong summer break. Its sponsor, Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, said it would boost border spending 10 percent above 2010 levels.

President Barack Obama has urged Congress to come up with $600 million to reinforce border security, and, with Arizona’s attempt to crack down on undocumented immigrants bringing national focus to the issue, both Republicans and Democrats have endorsed more robust border security spending.

The main stumbling block has been how to pay for the increased spending. Republicans sought to use unspent funds from the economic stimulus act, an idea rejected by Democrats.

The Democratic plan passed Thursday would boost fees assessed on foreign-based personnel companies that take advantage of U.S. visa programs, such as the H-1B visa program for temporary skilled workers, to bring foreign workers, mainly from India, into the United States.

The House last week passed similar legislation with $701 million in emergency money for border security. Click here for the rest of the story.

Friends: What astonishing figures for border security! Where’s the tradeoff? Where’s legalization? Where’s the DREAM Act? Where’s AgJobs? Where’s waivers for rehabilitated longtime residents convicted of crimes?

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