Immigration Overhaul

Senate Nears Approval of Border 'Surge'

'We've practically militarized the border.'

Doubling the number of Border Patrol agents along the U.S.-Mexico border and tripling the number of drones overhead should do the trick, right? On Thursday the Senate unveiled a $30 billion border security plan as an amendment to the immigration reform bill currently in Congress. The plan is designed to bring in as many as 15 Republican votes in favor of the bill, thereby greatly increasing its chances of passing. The plan would bring in 20,000 new Border Patrol agents and provide an economic stimulus to border communities. "This is a surge — a border surge. We've practically militarized the border," said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who helped negotiate the deal. "We've had two waves of illegal immigration. We can't stand a third."