Sens. Gregg, Sununu back $3b for better border control
By JORDY YAGER
Special to the Union Leader
1 hour, 5 minutes ago


WASHINGTON – Republican U.S. Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu, both R-N.H., said yesterday they support spending $3 billion for tighter control of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The money would finance the hiring and training of more border security agents, the building of a 700-mile fence along the southern border and an increase in high-technology surveillance measures.

"Border security is absolutely critical for protecting our nation, and it is a first step toward fixing our broken immigration system," Gregg said in a statement.

Sununu, in a separate statement, said: "Border security remains a top priority for residents in New Hampshire and across the nation. While more work needs to be done, this amendment takes the necessary step to help secure our nation's borders and reduce a steady tide of illegal immigration."

The provision has been offered as an amendment to the Defense Appropriation bill for fiscal year 2008, which was debated yesterday and is expected to be voted on today.

In July, the Senate approved a similar amendment sponsored by Gregg that was part of the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2008.

President Bush has threatened to veto that legislation because it spends more than he says is necessary.

The amendment introduced yesterday is Gregg's "insurance" to get the $3 billion approved, so that even if Bush decides to veto the Homeland Security bill, the money would still be spent to beef up border security.

"It's a double shot at making sure these funds are actually in place this year," he said.

Were both appropriation bills to pass Congress with the amendments intact and not get vetoed by the President, $6 billion would be designated for immigration purposes.

But as the administration has implied, the chances of that happening are highly unlikely.

There are 37 million foreign-born residents of the United States, the highest level in the country's history, representing 12.4 percent of the U.S. population, according to a Congressional Research Service report released in August.

Approximately one-third of them are naturalized citizens, one-third are legal permanent residents and one-third are illegal residents.

"I believe that border control funding is as much a part of national security as funding for the war on terrorism, and the amendment will put the funds in the pipeline to help ensure the safety and confidence of the American people," Gregg said.

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