Senate passes $ 600 million border security bill

The Senate passed a border security bill on Thursday. The session only had two Democrats in attendance, as the Senate is taking its August break. The border security bill allocates $ 600 million to hire more agents and buy more equipment to police the U.S./Mexico border. Illegal immigration and drug trafficking difficulties in border states have put pressure on the federal government to take meaningful action on border security. Resource for this article – Border security bill passes while senators are on trip by Personal Money Store.

Bill creates 1,500 border security jobs

To pass the border security bill, the Senate convened a special session Thursday. Unanimous consent, a parliamentary procedure that doesn’t require the entire Senate to be present, was used to pass the bill. Senate Republicans actually agreed to the maneuver. The Associated Press reports the bill funds U.S./Mexico border security jobs for 1,000 new Border Patrol agents, 250 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and 250 more Customs and Border Protection officers. Cash will even be allotted to new communications gear and more flight hours for unmanned surveillance drones. The bill sends about $ 200 million to the Justice Department for funding its efforts with the FBI, DEA and ATF within the fight against drug dealers and human traffickers.

Bill boosts U.S. visa program fees

The border security bill is election year theatre both parties both parties hope convince voters the Washington is capable of addressing border security in the wake of Arizona’s immigration law. The Los Angeles Times reports the $ 600 million price tag of the border security bill can be paid for by substantially boosting fees on companies that hire foreign workers using U.S visa programs. The package will do little to address the complex issue of illegal immigration, say immigration advocates who denounce it as an election year stunt. The politicians say securing the border first will allow a broader debate on immigration reform that involves a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants.

Special session a rare occurrence

The Senate convened during its summer vacation for only the second time since the August break was institutionalized in 1970, the Senate Historical Office said. The New York Times reported that Democrats Charles E. Schumer of New York and Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland were the only lawmakers in attendance. The border security bill had already been passed by the House and Senate. But a re-vote was unavoidable after one of the Senate’s byzantine procedural rules was overlooked. The first and only other time the Senate convened during the August break was a special session in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Additional reading at these sites

Associated Press

google.com/hostednews/ap

Los Angeles Times

latimes.com

New York Times

thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com