President Obama will seek $2 billion from Congress to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the country, and to process immigrants should they make it into the states. The president will send a letter to Congress Monday requesting the emergency funds, according to The New York Times, which first reported on the plan.
The funds would be used to ramp up border enforcement and to boost humanitarian aid to deal with the recent surge in immigrants. In conjunction with the funding, Obama will request that Congress approve new Homeland Security powers to allow the agency to more quickly screen and deport immigrants — particularly unaccompanied children — and to crack down on smugglers.
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