Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) is prepared to vote yes on comprehensive immigration reform if a deal to strengthen border security pulls through, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday.
“The decision is should the border security amendment pass, I will be able to support the final legislation because then I will be able to assure the people of Illinois that the border is well covered with 21,000 border agents added, one every thousand feet, I think we got the border covered,” Kirk told the Sun-Times.
The Illinois senator voted against filing cloture on the bill because Senate Democrats tabled Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)’s border security amendment. “I urge Democratic leaders to rethink a strategy that castigates those who seek true immigration reform and also consider border security a top national security priority,” Kirk wrote on his blog.