Thread: Approval of Bush’s budget could add 1,500 Border Patrol ag

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Approval of Bush’s budget could add 1,500 Border Patrol agents
February 19, 2006
Cari Hammerstrom
The Monitor


McALLEN — President Bush’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2007 requests an 8 percent increase in non-defense homeland security spending.

He is requesting $35.6 billion, or about 1.3 percent of the total budget, for the nearly two dozen agencies that make up the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

If Congress approves the budget, 1,500 more Border Patrol agents could be added to the force and more than 6,700 detention beds for immigration violators could be created.

Bush also included in his plan a sizable sum to lay the foundation for a Temporary Worker Program.

"For immigration reform to succeed, it must be based on three pillars: strengthening security at the borders; building a robust interior enforcement program to remove those here illegally; and implementing a Temporary Worker Program (TWP) to provide a legal channel for employers to hire foreign workers," according to information the Office of Management and Budget used to explain the president’s proposal.

"The Administration’s plan is to catch all migrants attempting to enter the country illegally, decrease crime rates along the border, allow employers to hire legal foreign workers when no American is willing to take the job, and restore public confidence in the Federal Government’s ability to enforce immigration laws."

The largest portion of proposed DHS funding may thus go to U.S. Customs and Border Protection — the umbrella agency for customs inspectors at land and sea ports and for the Border Patrol.

The proposed budget includes more than $3 billion for the Border Patrol — to increase the number of agents by 29 percent and to purchase new technology such as portable imaging machines, cameras and sensors.

"We need a lot more agents than what we’ve got," said Rio Grande Valley sector Local 3307 Border Patrol Union President Paul Perez in support of the proposal for more agents.

Perez said lawmakers are finally hearing the cries for increased border security, but he hopes the budget proposal actually translates into more funding and doesn’t fizzle out during negotiations in Congress.

"It’s time to act," he said. "The situation is not getting better."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not fall under the control of CBP but could also get a big financial boost.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has said that it is the goal of this administration to end the practice of "catch and release" and change it to "catch and return."

To do so, the president’s proposed budget provides $410.2 million to build more than 6,700 new detention beds.

The ICE San Antonio Field Office for Detention and Removal currently oversees 3,200 beds in three facilities, but this region will soon be getting a fourth ICE detention facility in Taylor, Texas, near Austin — named the Don T. Hutto facility — said ICE spokeswoman Nina Pruneda, who is based in San Antonio.

The second largest portion of DHS funding may be headed to the Transportation Security Administration.

About $3.7 billion is requested for aviation screening operations.

The federal government claims new baggage screening systems could increase baggage output by 250 percent, and increased technology at passenger checkpoints will enhance the detection of prohibited items such as firearms and explosives.

Officials hope to expand the use of automotive explosive sampling devices, one of which is currently in use at Miami International Airport. Passengers stand on lighted footprints inside a scanning machine while several puffs of air are released. The machine analyzes the air for trace amounts of explosives.

Whole body imaging machines and cast and prosthesis scanners are also provided for in the president’s budget.

The budget proposes to replace the current 9/11 airport security fee with a flat security fee of $5 for a one-way trip. According to the TSA Web site, the current 9/11 security fee is imposed on passengers of domestic and foreign air carriers for flights originating in the United States. The fee is $2.50 for each leg of a one-way trip. A passenger can be charged up to $5 per one-way trip.

"The new fee is expected to increase collections by an additional $1.3 billion, for a total of $3.3 billion. The revenue generated by aviation security fees will cover about 70 percent of core aviation security costs," according to the Office of Management and Budget.

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Cari Hammerstrom covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4424.

I still think that they would be better off using the money to put our soldiers on our border. They can't hire enough border patrol agents or even train them fast enough to change things quickly. If the borders were secured and we were to stop the flood of illegal aliens only for a few years with soldiers it would give the Border Patrol as it currently exists time to regroup and focus on deporting the twenty million illegal aliens already here.

Quote:
Bush also included in his plan a sizable sum to lay the foundation for a Temporary Worker Program.
"For immigration reform to succeed, it must be based on three pillars: strengthening security at the borders; building a robust interior enforcement program to remove those here illegally; and implementing a Temporary Worker Program (TWP) to provide a legal channel for employers to hire foreign workers," according to information the Office of Management and Budget used to explain the president’s proposal.

How arrogant of Bush to approve funding for the "Temporary Worker Program". This wasnt part of the 4437 bill that was passed by the House last December. How can he be so smug? TWP IS NOT IN THE PICTURE AND AMERICANS DO NOT WANT IT!