WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are adding hundreds of millions of dollars to improve ports of entry from Mexico and hire more immigration judges to a batch of spending bills the House will consider next week.
The move represents the party’s first steps in detailing how it would bolster border security as it battles President Donald Trump over his demand for building Southwest border wall. Trump’s refusal to sign spending bills that lack $5.7 billion to start constructing that wall has prompted the partial government shutdown that enters its 29th day Saturday.
A Democratic aide said none of the money was for the border wall.
The aide said the bills will include $524 million to improve a port of entry in California and another in Arizona. Another $563 million is to hire more immigration judges.
The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the figures publicly.
