BY Sean Alfano
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
With little fanfare, President Obama inked a $600 million border security law Friday that adds more agents and equipment on the Mexican border.
The law adds 1,000 more Border Patrol agents and will increase the number of unmanned drones used for surveillance. [See a roundup of political cartoons on immigration.]
The move comes two weeks after a federal judge struck down a controversial Arizona anti-illegal immigration law that would have given police the right to question people about their immigration status if they have "reasonable suspicion."
Republicans, such as Ariz. Sen. John McCain, say the law Obama signed does not add enough new agents to the border. [See who donates the most money to McCain's campaign.]
Only photographers were allowed to witness the bill's Oval Office signing. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano stood next to President Obama during the ceremony.
"This legislation will build upon our successful efforts to protect communities along the Southwest border and across the country," the White House said in a statement.
Also Friday, Napolitano spoke out against Republicans who are calling for an end to automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S.
A push by Republicans in Congress to change the 14th Amendment is "just wrong," Napolitano said.
The Senate's ranking Republican Mitch McConnell said he is in favor of holding hearings on the issue.
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