BanderasNews
Puerto Vallarta Weather Report
Welcome to Puerto Vallarta's liveliest website!
Contact UsSearch
Why Vallarta?Vallarta WeddingsRestaurantsWeatherPhoto GalleriesToday's EventsMaps
 NEWS/HOME
 AROUND THE BAY
 AROUND THE REPUBLIC
 AROUND THE AMERICAS
 THE BIG PICTURE
 BUSINESS NEWS
 TECHNOLOGY NEWS
 WEIRD NEWS
 EDITORIALS
 ENTERTAINMENT
 VALLARTA LIVING
 PV REAL ESTATE
 TRAVEL / OUTDOORS
 HEALTH / BEAUTY
 SPORTS
 DAZED & CONFUSED
 PHOTOGRAPHY
 CLASSIFIEDS
 READERS CORNER
 BANDERAS NEWS TEAM
Sign up NOW!

Free Newsletter!
Puerto Vallarta News NetworkNews from Around the Americas | July 2007 

Increase in Border Patrol Agents Approved
email this pageprint this pageemail usBYLINE


Washington - The Senate voted overwhelmingly last week to spend $3 billion over the next five years to hire thousands of new border patrol agents and expand technological surveillance of the nation's borders.

The money would be included in a homeland security spending bill, which the Senate approved after failing last month to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

The 89-1 vote to beef up border patrol underscored the lingering prominence of immigration as an issue that galvanizes American voters.

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, was the only senator to oppose the border security spending increase, citing his reluctance "to burden our children and grandchildren with another $3 billion of debt."

Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, both D-Ark., voted to increase spending on border security.

House Backs Immigration Crackdown

The House also weighed in on immigration when it agreed by voice vote to prohibit the spending of federal funds to jail two border patrol agents convicted of shooting a Mexican drug dealer.

Last October, the two agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean, were sentenced to 11 and 12 years, respectively, for shooting Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila as he escaped to Mexico and survived his wounds.

The House also voted 388-39 for an amendment by Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., to add $55 million to a Justice Department program that compensates towns and cities for incarcerating criminals who are illegal immigrants.

Reps. John Boozman, R-Rogers; Mike Ross, D-Prescott; and Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, voted for the Lofgren amendment.

Rep. Marion Berry, D-Gillett, voted against it.

Violence Against Women Addressed

The immigration issue also played a role in a 221-195 vote by the House to transfer $10 million from the Census Bureau to a Justice Department program to prevent violence against women.

Advocates of the transfer said it would aid immigrant women who are destitute because their immigrant husbands have abused or abandoned them.

Berry, Boozman and Ross voted for the transfer.

Snyder voted against it.



In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving
the included information for research and educational purposes • m3 © 2008 BanderasNews ® all rights reserved • carpe aestus