Democrats block $2.4 billion in immigration amendments
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Senate Democrats shot down $2.4 billion in Republican immigration amendments arguing for a White House plan to ramp up the U.S. presence along the Mexican border. <br />
Republicans from Texas and Arizona collaborated on three amendments – defeated Wednesday on budget points of order – that would have added 6,000 National Guard troops to trouble spots along the U.S.-Mexico border, provided for more law enforcement and equipment and expanded a five-year-old program that prosecutes illegal immigrants.
Arizona Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain pushed for a $200 million amendment to increase the number of troops and another $200 million provision to expand the Operation Streamline program, which Kyl argued had dramatically reduced border crossings in parts of Arizona and Texas. The funding request would have come out of stimulus funding.
Texas Republican John Cornyn also lost his bid for a $2 billion amendment that would've provided for new law enforcement personnel and equipment for troubled border regions.
Lawmakers are responding to continued violence between Mexican drug cartels along the border while discussing the prospect of more comprehensive immigration reform.
The Obama administration is pushing for an increase of 1,200 National Guard troops at a cost of $500 million. Kyl and McCain argued that more troops are needed and the White House's proposal is a "weak start and does not demonstrate an understanding of the current situation in the region," they said in a statement.
