http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=159269The Senate has rejected three amendments to an appropriations bill that would have increased funding for security at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Senate considered three border-security amendments today to H.R. 4899, the $58.8 billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The amendments were introduced by senators from Texas and Arizona.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and 10 co-sponsors offered Senate Amendment 4214, which would have provided for 6,000 National Guard troops to support and secure the U.S.-Mexico border. That amendment was rejected by Democrats and Republican Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio.
Also, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and three co-sponsors offered Senate amendment 4202 to use unspent U.S. stimulus dollars to pay for border fence surveillance and monitoring technologies. That amendment was rejected by Democrats and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Likewise, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., offered Senate Amendment 4228, which would have appropriated $200 million for a law enforcement initiative to address illegal crossings of the border. That amendment was also rejected by Democrats and Sen. Sanders.
Several illegal immigration advocacy groups had called upon members to oppose the amendments, including League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, and the National Council of La Raza.
WND Exclusive ON CAPITOL HILL
Democrats to border states: Drop dead
Senate kills amendments to enhance security, combat illegal immigration
Posted: May 28, 2010
12:45 am Eastern
By Chelsea Schilling
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
Agents Patrol Texas Border To Stop Illegal Immigrants From Entering U.S.
The Senate has rejected three amendments to an appropriations bill that would have increased funding for security at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Senate considered three border-security amendments today to H.R. 4899, the $58.8 billion Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The amendments were introduced by senators from Texas and Arizona.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and 10 co-sponsors offered Senate Amendment 4214, which would have provided for 6,000 National Guard troops to support and secure the U.S.-Mexico border. That amendment was rejected by Democrats and Republican Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio.
Also, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and three co-sponsors offered Senate amendment 4202 to use unspent U.S. stimulus dollars to pay for border fence surveillance and monitoring technologies. That amendment was rejected by Democrats and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Likewise, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., offered Senate Amendment 4228, which would have appropriated $200 million for a law enforcement initiative to address illegal crossings of the border. That amendment was also rejected by Democrats and Sen. Sanders.
Several illegal immigration advocacy groups had called upon members to oppose the amendments, including League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, and the National Council of La Raza.
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As WND reported, the Obama administration announced its decision this week to send 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S. southern border to counter cross-border drug and weapons trafficking. However, many lawmakers have warned that 1,200 would not be enough.
Sens. Kyl and McCain said Obama's decision to send an "insufficient number of National guard troops" is a "weak start and does not demonstrate an understanding of the current situation in the region."
"Our children are living in fear, but the Obama White House is living in denial," said Sen. Cornyn. "The president must make border security a priority, not an afterthought or an empty talking point."
However, the State Department announced the National Guard troops will not be used to stop illegal immigration.
Arizona border residents told Fox News this week that Obama's wavering immigration policy is only making things worse.
"Every time our president talks to the Mexican president, or every time the word amnesty comes over the Mexican news, there is a flood of people," said one unnamed resident who feared retaliation.
The residents said troops won't deter illegal aliens and drug smugglers.
"There's guys out here with no guns, and they're our troops," she said. "The Mexicans think we're nuts."
Meanwhile, Obama has blasted Arizona's immigration law. He told a May 26 fundraising reception for Barbara Boxer in San Francisco, "Folks are out there looking at the Arizona law, and it's divided the country. Now, I've been very clear. I think the Arizona law was a mistake. And my Justice Department is looking very carefully at the nature of this law."
As WND recently reported, thousands of illegal aliens apprehended along the 2,000 mile border stretching through California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas aren't even from Mexico. Many are citizens of countries that are known sponsors of terrorism, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Syria and Iran.
Former Rep. Tom Tancredo told WND he doesn't believe Obama's decision to send troops is intended to improve the situation.
"I don't think anybody thinks this matters," he said. "Obama certainly doesn't."
He added, "The desire is not to fix the problem. The desire is to have amnesty. All of this is in anticipation of amnesty."
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