New Mexico's senators got money added to spending measures as the jousting goes on over immigration. By James W. Brosnan Scripps Howard News Service July 22, 2006 WASHINGTON - As the standoff in Congress over immigration reform thickens with every media event, members are scrambling to strengthen border security through other bills. The latest came Thursday when the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a request by Sen. Pete Domenici, an Albuquerque Republican, to add $20.4 million to a spending bill to hire more staff for the federal courts in New Mexico and the other southern border states. "I've visited with judges in southern New Mexico, and I've seen the rapid increase in caseloads. As we hire and deploy more Border Patrol agents, the situation is only going to get worse," Domenici said.