WASHINGTON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate approved on Wednesday 1.9 billion U.S. dollars to enhance border security.

    The money, diverted from the war funding requested by President George W. Bush for Iraq and Afghanistan, was to be used for increasing patrols against illegal immigrants on the borders, buying patrol boats and helicopters for the Coast Guard, and building a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

    The fund, approved by a vote of 59-39, was contained in an amendment sponsored by Republican Senator Judd Gregg, to a massive bill that funds American operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and provides additional funding to rebuilding the southern states hit by Hurricane Katrina last year.

    Bush had threatened to veto the 106.5 billion dollar bill because it exceeded his request of 92.2 billion dollars.

    The bill included 67.6 billion dollars for Pentagon's military operations and 27.1 billion dollars for hurricane relief, and 2.1 billion dollars for levees and flood control projects.

    A final vote on the spending bill was not expected till next week. Enditem