The United States House of Representatives passed a US$694 million border bill in a highly contentious vote late Friday before the Congress takes a long break, though it is unlikely to become a law.

The House GOP leadership exerted effort to persuade the conservative lawmakers to pass a border bill that aims to address the worsening border crisis in the U.S. The vote is seen as a party-wide decision.

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With a 223-189 vote, with only one Democrat voting in support and four republicans against it, the bill proposes to allocate over US$400 million funding to the Department of Homeland Security to intensify its security and implementation of border-related laws.

New Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA.) even met with the undecided lawmakers to hear their arguments that resulted in legislative refinements to make it acceptable to House' majority.

"We were absolutely heard," Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN.) said. "This is the model of the process that the House Republicans need to follow. Leadership got that message."

Among the tweaks included in the final bill was the additional US$35 million for the deployment of the National Guard to the border. It also included the revision of the 2008 anti-trafficking law for easier deportation of unaccompanied children from Central American countries.

However, some critics said the passage of the legislation was only for political purposes. The critics said the bill has no chance of becoming into a law with President Barack Obama signaled its intention to veto the measure once it reaches his table.

But even that possibility may not happen after the Democratic-led Senate snubbed the bill, taking into a three-week long break with no official legislative agenda on how to help the 57,000 children from Central America who illegally crossed U.S. border since October last year.

Obama said Republicans should stop working on "the most extreme and unworkable versions of a bill that they already know is going nowhere." The president assured the public on his actions to address the border crisis, but fell short on specifying his plans.

The bill's passage came just three weeks after Obama asked the Congress for a US$3.7-billion  emergency funds in his bid to help expedite the processing of unaccompanied children in the border and intensify its security. Congress made no official action yet on the request, with Senate proposing a US$2.7 billion version though it has yet to advance in the proceedings. 

Tagsborder crisis, Presiden Barack Obama, House of representatives