There’s a worm in the long-awaited immigration reform bill approved by the Senate on Thursday. The number of border agents will double to 40,000, drone use will expand and 700 miles of border fencing will go up.

The legislation creates a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants while imposing extreme and unprecedented new measures for border security.

Republicans introduced the security provisions as part of an effort to win their colleagues’ support. A number of immigrant rights groups say the added requirements will undermine the bill overall.

“Democracy Now!” heard Friday from two experts on the issue: Lorella Praeli, director of advocacy and policy at United We Dream, and Fernando Garcia, founding director of the Border Network for Human Rights.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

‘Democracy Now!’:

Your support is crucial…

With an uncertain future and a new administration casting doubt on press freedoms, the danger is clear: The truth is at risk.

Now is the time to give. Your tax-deductible support allows us to dig deeper, delivering fearless investigative reporting and analysis that exposes what’s really happening — without compromise.

Stand with our courageous journalists. Donate today to protect a free press, uphold democracy and unearth untold stories.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG