NY Times-President Obama Signs Border Security Bill

President Barack Obama: NY Daily News

(Story reported by The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law a $600 million border security that will put more agents and equipment along the Mexican border.

Obama signed the bill in the Oval Office alongside Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The measure will fund the hiring of 1,000 new Border Patrol agents to be deployed at critical areas along the border, as well as more Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. It also provides for new communications equipment and greater use of unmanned surveillance drones.

Some Republicans, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, say that while the legislation is a start, it falls short by not dramatically increasing the number of cutoms inspectors along the border and not funding a program that charges illegal immigrants with a low-level crime.

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