Schumer Pushes Bill to Provide $600 Million for the Border

This afternoon, just days before the Senate leaves for recess, Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) have introduced a bill to provide $600 million for upping security on the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill would give $176 million to hire 1,500 additional officers for a strike force along the border and would be fully paid for through an increase in visa fees for temporary skilled workers from Indian companies.

CQ Politics has more:

Schumer said they would try to pass the measure by voice vote before the Senate adjourns, presenting a political challenge to Republicans who have insisted on bolstering border security as a precondition to discussing broader immigration measures sought by Democrats.

“The new border security proposal will be a test of people’s seriousness when it comes to the border,” Schumer said. “It will expose whether people really want to secure our borders or just want an issue.”

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., was noncommittal early Thursday afternoon, when asked whether GOP senators would back the bill. “We’ll take a look at it,” he said. Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz., who had introduced a $701 million border security bill last week, said he did not know the details of the bill and would not comment.

The bill is the latest in a push by Democrats to prove they are serious about illegal immigration enforcement. House passed a bill last week to provide $701 million to the border.