If approved, the money would be used for law agencies located within 100 miles of the U.S. - Mexico border to hire more personnel, buy equipment and/or cover overtime and transportation costs.

In a press release, Bingaman says "Border law enforcement agencies incur significant expenses in dealing with crimes, such as human smuggling, vehicle thefts, drug trafficking, and the destruction of private property, due to their proximity to an international border and the failure of the federal government to adequately secure its borders."

Domenici says "Because our borders have been essentially porous, local law enforcement in the border region must often deal with illegal activities related to the border. This amendment is a means for establishing a system for compensating these local agencies."

The Senators say the measure could be voted on as early as Monday.