Senators agree to additional $3 billion in border security funds

Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed Thursday to add $3 billion in technology and resources to the fiscal 2008 Homeland Security spending bill for border security and to crack down on illegal immigrants.

But the extra funding is also likely to complicate conference proceedings and put Congress on a path toward a showdown with the White House. President Bush had already threatened to veto the legislation over its total level of spending before the additional funding was added.

In approving the extra funding, Democrats and Republicans declared that gaining control of the nation's borders and going after illegal immigrants constitutes a national emergency. "If there was ever a legitimate emergency in this country I think this would be one of those times because we've lost control of our border," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Senators tried to reach agreement late Wednesday on adding the funding but could not agree on exactly what the additional money would be used for. The debate became acrimonious at times, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., charging that Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, did not want to reach an agreement for political reasons.

But in a late-night conversation after their floor exchange, Reid and Cornyn were able to reach an accord, and Reid recanted his words Thursday. "What a difference a night makes," Reid said. "I was wrong and Sen. Cornyn was right. I hate to acknowledge that, but it's basically right."

The extra $3 billion would cover completion of 700 miles of border fencing and 300 miles of vehicle barriers. It also would pay for an additional 23,000 Border Patrol officers and increase the number of beds available to detain illegal immigrants to 45,000. It would also pay for 105 ground-based radars and surveillance towers along the border, along with four new unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.

"The technology in this bill will be a force multiplier," Graham said.

Under the agreement reached with Cornyn, the funds can also be used to detain and remove foreigners who have overstayed their visas, criminal aliens and aliens who have illegally re-entered the United States after being deported. It can also reimburse state and local governments for costs associated with border security. Cornyn said 45 percent of all illegal immigrants in the country are foreigners who came in legally and overstayed.

The amendment passed, 89-1, with only Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, dissenting. Voinovich said what Congress has already appropriated for border security "is more than enough."

Senators acknowledged that the White House will likely oppose the additional spending. But Graham pointed out that Bush has consistently requested more money for the war in Iraq.

"Now it's time to spend $3 billion, I think, to secure our own border here at home," he said. Reid said he wanted to finish work on the bill Thursday, but with 11 pending amendments it was not clear if that would be possible.

Reid threatened to file a cloture motion on the bill, which would mean a final vote on passage would not be held until Saturday at the earliest.