Obama administration wants $1.2 billion for border

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is asking Congress to agree to an additional $1.2 billion to deal with the unaccompanied minors arriving at the Southwest border.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says in a statement that he needs the money for the 2015 fiscal year that begins in October. Without it, he says he’ll have to move money from different accounts. He says that would leave the nation vulnerable to homeland security risks.

House Republicans are likely to view the request skeptically and it’s not clear Johnson will get the money he’s asking for. His statement Monday came as lawmakers returned to Washington from a five-week summer recess.

In that time the situation on the border has subsided from crisis proportions as arrivals of migrant Central American youths have dropped substantially.

ERICA WERNER, Associated Press