2010-08-14 00:38

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama has signed into law a $600 million border security that will put more agents and equipment along the Mexican border.

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Obama signed the bill in the White House Friday. The measure will fund the hiring of 1,000 new Border Patrol agents to be deployed at critical areas along the border, as well as more Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. It also provides for new communications equipment and greater use of unmanned surveillance drones.

Some Republicans, including border state Arizona Sen. John McCain, say that while the legislation is a start, it falls short by not dramatically increasing the number of cutoms inspectors along the border and not funding a program that charges illegal immigrants with a low-level crime.

US President Barack Obama signs the Southwest Border Security Bill as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano watches in the Oval Office in Washington August 13, 2010. [Agencies]