WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Senate today passed a $600 million measure to strengthen border security on the Southwest border of the United States. The bill, which was unanimously approved by voice vote, will enable the Obama Administration to deploy 1,500 additional immigration enforcement agents, along with additional unmanned aerial drones and millions of dollars in communications equipment to the border. The legislation is fully paid for by increasing visa fees on foreign companies.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), who supported passage of the legislation, stated:

"I am hopeful that passage of today's border security bill will help pave a path towards comprehensive immigration reform that is tough, but fair. Additionally, we must modernize our immigration system so that the U.S. can continue to attract the best and brightest.

"The Obama Administration and this Congress have correctly increased border security over the last year and a half, after such efforts became less of a priority under President Bush, but we still need bipartisan cooperation to create a common-sense immigration policy."

Now that the border security bill has been approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate, it goes to President Obama to be signed into law.