AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas has approved spending another $86 million on border security as it begins replacing previously deployed National Guard units with state troopers as part of its ongoing "surge."
The Legislative Budget Board's 10 state Senate and House lawmakers unanimously approved the extra funding Monday.
They did so despite Democratic concerns about a "militarized" border. Some Republicans also worried that the National Guard may yet be needed because of unintended consequences of President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration.
Governor Rick Perry ordered up to 1,000 guardsmen to the Rio Grande Valley in July, but they'll head home by April.
The additional funding means state troopers and more surveillance cameras can take their place.
Illegal crossings into Texas have slowed dramatically since a surge of immigrants this summer prompted Perry's order.
