JULIE PACE
AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is seeking more than $2 billion to respond to the flood of immigrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and asking for new powers to deal with returning immigrant children apprehended while traveling without their parents.

A White House official said Saturday that Obama plans to make the requests of Congress in a letter to be sent Monday.

The official says that details of the emergency appropriation will come after lawmakers return from their holiday recess on July 7.

The president will ask that the Homeland Security Department be granted the authority to apply “fast track” procedures to the screening and deportation of all immigrant children traveling without their parents.

The official was not authorized to speak by name and discussed the requests on condition of anonymity.

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