The White House has asked Congress to approve $600 million in emergency funds to bolster homeland security operations along the US-Mexico border.
According to a letter signed by President Obama $297 million would be used to hire 1,000 new border patrol agents, $52.5 million to hire an additional 160 new Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, $37 million for two new unmanned aircraft systems and $201 million for the Department of Justice to help provide critical support along the border.
The request coincides with a comprehensive DHS review of its Secure Border Initiative and follows its announcement in March that it would repurpose Recovery Act funds that were to be spent on developmental SBI technology.
Instead the funds are to be used for more basic technology such as thermal imaging devices and pursuit vehicles, DHS announced.
