The measures, which had been stipulated in the intelligence overhaul bill passed by Congress last December, were intended to help end the practice known as "catch and release," where the Border Patrol has been forced to free illegal aliens because they have no place to hold them.

Al-Jazeera recently nixed plans to film a documentary on the U.S.'s porous southern border, with a special emphasis on "catch and release" - after the Minuteman Project blew the whistle on the terrorist-friendly network.

Despite the obvious risks to U.S. national security, Senators Clinton and Schumer, along with a number of soft-on-national security Democrats, declined to support the border security amendments and the measure failed to pass.

Just last week the former first lady blasted President Bush on border security in a statement posted to her official Senate Web site.

"This administration has failed to provide the resources to protect our borders, or a better system to keep track of entrants to this country," she complained, adding, "I welcome the addition of more border security."

In the past she has claimed to be "adamantly against illegal immigrants."

Schumer explained his vote to the Washington Times, saying that the costs of enhancing border security would "take away money from the people every day who defend us and, since 9/11, have new duties."

Mrs. Clinton's office didn't return a call from the Times.

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