The Senate today interrupted its summer recess to approve a $600-million border security bill. The bill will allow President Barack Obama to send 1,500 more troops and immigration officials to beef up security along the border with Mexico. It is expected that Obama will sign the legislation as soon as possible.
The passage of bill is significant because it is an important election year issue as both Democrats and Republicans are intending to show voters that they are committed to address the issue of border security after Arizona passed its tough illegal immigration law. Most senators abstained from the quick, do-over vote, which was held, because of a procedural mishap in passing the measure the first time. The bill, which was passed by the House unanimously, passed without dissent in Senate.
Immigration advocates have denounced the bill saying it is passed to grab votes and will not do much to address the complex problems of illegal immigration. But lawmakers stressed that it was important to maintain security at the border in order to allow a broader debate on comprehensive immigration reform.
“The bill will provide the boots on the grounds and the resources needed to combat the crime and violence” on the border,” said Democratic senators, Charles Schumer of New York. Notably, the money to finance the new legislation will come from the higher fees for skilled-worker visas for companies that have more than half of their employees on two types of foreign-worker visas. “The fees target companies that are essentially creating multinational temp agencies,” added Schumer.
