DHS Announces $12.14 Billion for Border Security & Immigration Enforcement Efforts

Release Date: January 31, 2008

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff previewed today a 19 percent increase over Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 in funding for border security and immigration enforcement efforts in FY 2009. This represents a more than 150 percent increase since President Bush has been in office, enabling the department to fulfill its border infrastructure, fencing and personnel goals by the end of 2008.

“In his State of the Union address, President Bush said that we must secure the border, police the interior, and find a way to deal with the issue of illegal immigration in a way that is humane and sensible,â€