Federal funding may increase for border law enforcement

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn will seek to double the amount of federal grant money designated for border law enforcement in the Homeland Security department’s annual funding bill, his staff said Wednesday.

In an amendment to the Senate’s DHS appropriations bill, the senator added $50 million in grants that can be used to obtain equipment, hire personnel, upgrade and maintain technology and cover operational costs.

The addition brings the total amount of local law enforcement grant money available under the bill to $100 million.

“Local law enforcement and taxpayers along the border have been forced to bear the costs of our broken immigration system for far too long,” he said, in a written statement. “Taxpayers along the border should not have to foot the bill.”

The bill is currently being considered in the Senate.