The Senate attached an immigration enforcement measure sponsored by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to its Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution before passage on March 13. The amendment would create a deficit-neutral reserve fund that fully covers completion of the 700-mile border fence and at least 6,000 National Guard troops at the border. The fund also would cover: implementing the exit data portion of the U.S. VISIT entry/exit system at airports, seaports, and land ports of entry; training/ reimbursement for state and local immigration law enforcement under the Section 287(g) program; and expanding the zero tolerance illegal entry prosecution policy to all 20 border sectors.

The principle mission of the caucus, which includes Republican Senators David Vitter (La.), James DeMint (S.C.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), James Inhofe (Okla.), Elizabeth Dole (N.C.), Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Richard Burr (N.C.), and Roger Wicker (Miss.), "promote a true, achievable alternative