Senate votes 89-1 to spend $3 billion to hire more Border Patrol agents

WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted overwhelmingly last week to spend $3 billion over 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 the 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. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., voted to increase spending on border security.

IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN

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

In October, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean were sentenced to 11 and 12 years, respectively, for shooting Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila as he escaped to Mexico.

Ramos 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. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Dean Heller and Jon Porter, both R-Nev., voted for the Lofgren amendment.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

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.

Berkley, Heller and Porter voted for the transfer.

PERMANENT BASES REJECTED

In anticipation of an upcoming debate on defense spending, the House voted 399-24 to ban permanent U.S. bases in Iraq.

Supporters, including 172 Republicans, said the perception of a long-term American presence in Iraq is motivating attacks by insurgents and causing resentment among the Iraqi people.

Republican opponents downplayed the vote, saying congressional Democrats were trying to score political points while delaying work on more important military legislation.

Berkley, Heller and Porter voted to ban permanent U.S. bases in Iraq.