White House wants $4.5 billion in emergency border funding

Acting-Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan prepares for a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on his agency's future funding, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 30, 2019. McAleenan, who is also the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was directed Monday by President Donald Trump to take additional measures to overhaul the asylum system, which he insists "is in crisis" and plagued by "rampant abuse." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON – The White House is asking Congress for an additional $4.5 billion in emergency spending for border security.

That's according to two people familiar with the request who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly.

A summary of the request obtained by the AP says the White House wants $3.3 billion for humanitarian aid to increase shelter capacity for unaccompanied migrant children and the feeding and care of families.

Another $1.1 billion would go toward operational support, including personnel expenses, detention beds, transportation and investigative work on smuggling.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said Tuesday the department is running out of money amid a spike in migrants crossing the Southern border.