Senate OKs millions for security on border

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted unanimously Thursday to bolster security at U.S. borders by pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into more patrols, surveillance flights and sensors to catch illegal immigrants sneaking into the country.

Senators approved the $32.7 billion budget for Homeland Security Department next year by a vote of 100-0. But they rejected proposals to boost funds for cities and states at high risk of terrorism attacks, a sore subject amid a recent spate of terrorism-related arrests and threats targeting metropolitan areas.

With border security and immigration reform a top election-year priority, the Senate also agreed to make digging tunnels under the border a felony but rejected adding another 370 miles of fencing along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. About 75 miles of the border is now fenced. The House has voted to add 700 miles of fencing.