WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is asking Congress for $3.7 billion to deal with the flood of immigrant kids streaming across the US border — double the amount that it estimated just days ago.
The White House is calling the border influx an “emergency situation,” with more than 52,000 children coming across from Central America since October.
Half the funds — $1.8 billion — would go to care for and feed the youngsters, as the US is obliged to do under current law while it processes their claims.
But there’s also money for more drone flights at the border, a p.r. effort to discourage parents from sending their kids on the perilous journey, and funds that would help immigrants get legal counseling.
As emergency spending, the request wouldn’t need to be paid for with other cuts or new revenue.
The proposal faces an uncertain future in Congress, which is bitterly divided over immigration, but where lawmakers in both parties are calling for an immediate response to the growing crisis.
Obama, who visits Texas Wednesday, is getting heat from members of both parties for his decision not to head for the border to see what’s going on firsthand.
“I hope this doesn’t become the [Hurricane] Katrina moment for President Obama, saying that he doesn’t need to come to the border. He should come down,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas).
“If it’s a national emergency — which I agree it is — why is the president raising money for two days in Texas and refusing to come to the border and see it for [himself]?” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Obama has three fund-raisers for Democratic campaign committees Wednesday and Thursday.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the president is “not worried about those optics,” and said multiple officials are focused on the border issue.
The White House announced Tuesday that Obama will meet with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has been blasting his response to the migrant wave and demanding the feds pony up cash to help his state cope.