Thread: DHS chief revises forecast for fully securing U.S. borders

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0706/072706cdpm1.htm

July 27, 2006
DHS chief revises forecast for fully securing U.S. borders
By Chris Strohm, CongressDaily


Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday his department can accelerate its ability to control the nation's borders by 2008, but House lawmakers remained concerned that the effort lacks strategic planning and effective oversight.

Chertoff told the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee during a hearing that the department can shorten the time it will take to gain "operational control" of the borders through its Secure Border Initiative. "I think we can get this done in 2008," he said.

When Chertoff announced the SBI program last year, he said it would take five years to gain operational control of the northern and southern borders. He told lawmakers Thursday that homeland security funding in the recently approved fiscal 2006 emergency supplemental bill, along with the deployment of National Guard troops to the border, will enable the department to accelerate the program.

He said the department plans to have more than 18,300 Border Patrol agents hired by the end of 2008, which he said would double the force from 2001 levels.

Chertoff also said the department plans to award a contract in 45 to 60 days to develop and implement the first phase of the program, dubbed SBInet, which is focused exclusively on improving security at the nation's borders through a combination of technology, tactical infrastructure and personnel. Other phases of SBI are expected to focus on enforcement of immigration laws inside the country and implementing a temporary guest worker program if Congress passes legislation authorizing that.

Lawmakers said they were concerned, however, that the department has not yet submitted a strategic plan to Congress for securing the borders.

"Without that plan it's unclear to us ... as to whether or not operational control is worth buying," said House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky. "We need to know the cost of it [and] we need to know what we're buying. We don't like to buy in the dark."

SBI program manager Greg Giddens previously told the subcommittee that a "strategy document outlining the objectives" would be submitted by the end of last April, but that deadline was missed. Chertoff said the plan will be submitted Nov. 1.

House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member Martin Olav Sabo, D-Minn., said he was concerned the department will rely too heavily on industry for border security without effective oversight. Chertoff acknowledged much is expected from industry, saying the department has asked the private sector to propose technology and processes for border security.

"This frankly puts the burden on them to go out and do the legwork, as opposed to us doing the legwork," Chertoff said. But he assured the panel that SBI will have clear goals and proper oversight.

Chertoff also asked again for Congress to pass legislation that would enact a temporary guestworker program, saying doing so would be cheaper than trying to round up and deport illegal immigrants across the country. He said it would cost up to $10 billion to try to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in the country by 10 percent if the department has to detain and deport them.

House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member Martin Olav Sabo, D-Minn., said he was concerned the department will rely too heavily on industry for border security without effective oversight. Chertoff acknowledged much is expected from industry, saying the department has asked the private sector to propose technology and processes for border security.

"This frankly puts the burden on them to go out and do the legwork, as opposed to us doing the legwork," Chertoff said. But he assured the panel that SBI will have clear goals and proper oversight.

Private industry will do this?? I wonder how much of this effort will be outsourced to China, or perhaps Latin American countries like Venezuela ,by the Bush Administration. Certainly an reassurance that they would come up with effective technology for border security.... NOT!!!

Chertoff also asked again for Congress to pass legislation that would enact a temporary guestworker program, saying doing so would be cheaper than trying to round up and deport illegal immigrants across the country. He said it would cost up to $10 billion to try to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in the country by 10 percent if the department has to detain and deport them

The government acknowledges 8-10 million illegal aliens in the country. If that were the case, and detaining and deporting 10% of them would cost $10 billion, that would be $10,000 to $12,500 each. That statement argues for more efficient and expeditious removal of illegal aliens. Illegal presence in the country should be a clearcut offense, settled with an administrative order of removal, with no rights of appeal. These cases should be able to be resolved within 48 hours.

Remarks such as this by Chertoff only encourage more illegals to attempt to cross the border. This administration has deliberately allowed the invasion of a large number of illegals so they could make this very argument against mass deportations and in favor of guest worker amnesty.

This guy is part of Bush's gang, of course he will make everything much more difficult.

How about enforcing the law by fining the employers, if they would do that they wouldn't need to deport so many.

Is there a more incompetent and corrupt government agency than the DHS?

Did anyone else see Lou Dobbs tonight when he covered some of the hearings today?

Besides using no-bid contracts, DHS has also "misplaced" billions of dollars, and it's financial management system is non-existant. Then, of course, there are those thousands of deteriorating trailers the DHS bought and never used. They're apparently now being eaten by termites.

So we're supposed to believe anything this incompetent hack Chertoff says about anything?

If we lived in a sane society, we'd be seeing Chertoff and most of his executive staff being led away in handcuffs, not giving more bogus testimony to Congress.

Chertoff also asked again for Congress to pass legislation that would enact a temporary guestworker program, saying doing so would be cheaper than trying to round up and deport illegal immigrants across the country. He said it would cost up to $10 billion to try to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in the country by 10 percent if the department has to detain and deport them.

Since when does a guest worker program fall under Chertoff's umbrella? His only concern should be the security of our nation! Actually, he is not only asking for a guest worker program, he's asking for amnesty for illegals currently in the United States. His job is law enforcement, not making immigration policy.

Stop whinning and complaining Chertoff and do your damn job! What ever happened to the American "can do" spirit? Personally, I'm starting to develop a big distrust for Chertoff. He's just another Bush lackey that can't think for himself.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryn ... 138826.htm

Posted on Thu, Jul. 27, 2006

Chertoff pledges early control of border

By Michelle Mittelstadt

The Dallas Morning News

(MCT)

WASHINGTON - The federal government will gain operational control of the Southwest border in 2008, two years ahead of schedule, thanks to $1.9 billion in extra money for enforcement and the deployment of National Guard troops to the region, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff pledged Thursday.

"Obviously there are, of course, unpredictable elements in this," Chertoff told the House subcommittee that controls his department's purse strings. "But I think the supplemental (funding) and the use of the National Guard in the intervening period of time really does give us a jumpstart in getting this done."

While Chertoff sketched a rosy view of immigration enforcement developments at the border and inside the country, House appropriators were far more skeptical.

During the two-hour hearing, they grumbled about a lack of strategic planning, inadequate contractor oversight and delays in completing the US-VISIT program to track foreigners' entry and departure from the country.

"If we're ever going to someday get to a comprehensive immigration policy, you have to succeed first at a border security plan - and no one that I know really has confidence that you can do this," said Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y.

Chertoff cited as evidence the 45 percent decline in border apprehensions, which suggests fewer illegal immigrants are trying to cross; rising worksite enforcement criminal prosecutions; and the addition of 2,000 detention beds in Texas within days. Those markers prove lawmakers don't have to "take on faith the department saying, `We've got things under control,'" he said.

But Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, complained that Homeland Security sometimes turns a blind eye to reports of employers hiring illegal immigrants. State and local law enforcement often contact the department with tips of rogue employers "and they're just totally blown off," he said.

Though Chertoff stopped short of endorsing a new immigration proposal outlined this week by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, he did offer support for a key part of her plan: turning aspects of the guest worker program over to private employment agencies. The private sector, he said, can be more efficient than government at collecting applicants' data, fingerprints, health information and other records.

"We would actually have to do the security checks ourselves and make the (visa) determinations, but in terms of just collecting data, you could have the private sector play a role in that," he said.

The secretary renewed the Bush administration's push for an immigration overhaul that pairs a temporary worker program with increased border security, saying "brute force" alone could not end illegal immigration.

But Chertoff warned Congress that it would take some time for the government to implement any temporary worker program or plan to legalize millions of illegal immigrants.

"I don't think we could open for business the day after Congress passed it," he told reporters after the hearing. "We would need months."

Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, argued that the government is far from ready to handle any increased workload caused by a sweeping guest worker program. "I personally think none of those areas are even close to ready," he said.

House Republican leaders, hoping to make the case for their enforcement-only approach, announced 21 immigration hearings in 13 states during the August recess. The hearings are designed to spotlight what House leaders view as flaws in the Senate's comprehensive immigration bill.

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=5761

Statement for the Record by Secretary Michael Chertoff, before the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security

Rayburn House Office Building
July 27, 2006
(Remarks as Prepared)

Introduction

I am pleased to be here today to testify about border security and the impact of supplemental funding on that essential mission. This Committee has strongly supported getting DHS the resources necessary to meet both immediate border security needs and the long-term solution envisioned under the Secure Border Initiative (SBI).

I appreciate your diligent oversight. My department and I are fully committed to providing you with the timely and substantive information required to ensure that DHS is spending the money you appropriate in an effective manner. We are mindful of Chairman Rogers’ mandate of “No Plan, No Money”. We are working to meet the reporting deadlines for bi-monthly metrics briefing beginning this September, and finalizing the SBI strategic plan by November 1st.

When we allocate border security funding we will measure results. I look forward to working closely with all of you as conference on the Fiscal Year 2007 DHS appropriations bill approaches.

Executive Summary

Border security is a complex challenge, which requires an approach that is both comprehensive and layered. The process of securing our nation begins far beyond the borders of the United States and continues to the interior of our country. It must address the movement of both people and goods, and is not successful unless it protects the country from harm and allows lawful trade and immigration. Achieving border security will call for a blend of physical resources such as equipment and personnel along with intangible elements such as useful intelligence and strong partnerships with foreign governments.

Consequently, the Administration, in consultation with Congress, has established the Secure Border Initiative (SBI) to respond to the continuum of border security threats. The priorities of SBI funding requests fit our overall approach to risk-based funding – focusing immediate efforts on the most glaring and pressing needs, and building strategically towards deterrence, detection, apprehension, detention, and removal.

Your strong advocacy for border security in the 2006 supplemental and 2007 DHS appropriation bills will help us implement an aggressive program to reform our border security and immigration system. Allow me to outline some of the initial key successes we’ve had in using the supplemental funding you provided:

• As of July 12, we have used supplemental funding to activate more than 3,500 National Guard troops to support our southern border programs. [/*:m:3ac2t7qp]
• ICE has signed an agreement to add 2,000 more beds in Texas to help end catch and release with more beds coming on line in the near future. [/*:m:3ac2t7qp]
• CBP has freed more than 150 agents to return to direct enforcement activities from more administrative roles. [/*:m:3ac2t7qp]

Overall, this supplemental will help DHS attain our goal of ending “catch and release”; expedite the hiring and deployment of more Border Patrol agents; add miles of additional tactical infrastructure at key junctures along the border; and provide for tougher enforcement of immigration laws within the United States, including increased cooperation with our state and local partners. These efforts, along with the interim deployment of National Guard troops to the border in support of DHS, will allow DHS to make great strides towards securing our border now.

These rapid accomplishments will show measurable results, upon which we are enacting and adjusting our border security strategy under SBI. DHS is securing the border, and implementing the metrics to demonstrate to Congress the returns on the taxpayers’ border security investments. We will continue to work with you on the larger task ahead.

Ending “Catch and Release”

The longstanding reality of enforcement along the border has been characterized as “catch and release”. The sheer number of individuals apprehended along the border combined with various limitations on our ability to detain and return aliens to their country of origin, resulted in the release of aliens into our country with a notice to appear before an immigration judge. Most never return for their hearing and reside in this country illegally.

Now, as a result of new resources furnished by Congress, operational improvements, and creative thinking, I am proud to say that today we have made great progress toward this year’s goal of ending the practice of “catch and release”. We have increased efficiencies in the detention and removal system including expanded use of expedited removal. We have also worked with foreign governments to ensure that they accept back their citizens on a timely basis who have violated our immigration laws. Together, these improvements have facilitated faster turnover and greater utilization of detention capacity. In fact, in all categories of illegal aliens caught at the border but one, we have achieved a policy of “catch, detain, and remove.” The exception is nationals from El Salvador. A court decision rendered nearly 20 years ago, involving a civil conflict that ended 14 years ago, has blocked our use of one of the key efficiency drivers – expedited removal – for El Salvadoran nationals. Consequently, until recently, DHS was not detaining these aliens.

However, even here we are making progress. Last week we began detaining all El Salvadorans apprehended along the Southwest border in every sector but the Rio Grande sector. As additional beds come on line, El Salvadoran nationals apprehended along the Southwest border will be detained until removal. The large number of apprehensions of El Salavadoran nationals in these areas currently make 100% detention unrealistic at this moment. But, we are concentrating new detention resources provided by the supplemental into this area and will soon be detaining all aliens in these sectors.

Importantly, this improved detention and removal has a real benefit in terms of deterrence as well. To date, for the non-El Salvadoran populations which we have been detaining for almost a year now, we have seen over a 40% reduction in apprehensions compared to those projected based on historical trends. Catch, detain, and remove evidently yields real results.

Border Patrol Personnel/Support

Expanding the number of Border Patrol agents is one of the core elements of long-term border reform. We are committed to the President’s strategy of adding 6,000 new agents, and the supplemental provided the resources we need to begin getting the job done. This funding will allow the Border Patrol to hire an additional 1,000 Border Patrol Agents and related support costs, which will increase the total number of new agents in FY 2007 under our request to 2,500. We will add 6,000 new Agents over the next two years to reach a total level of over 18,300. This level is twice the number of agents since the Administration began in 2001.

In the near term, DHS is implementing operational improvements and efficiencies that will help get Border Patrol agents into direct operations, more quickly. The supplemental will move agents away from the back office into direct enforcement roles by contracting out administrative functions.

Of course, Operation Jump Start funding in the supplemental also provides an immediate opportunity to get CBP agents out to the front lines. As of July 25, 4,528 National Guard personnel were assigned to Operation Jump Start. Of that total, 1,886 have been fully trained and deployed to operational border patrol sectors. In addition to acting as a force multiplier through the critical support they provide, these National Guard personnel have allowed over 150 Border Patrol Agents to return from administrative duties to front-line patrol.

FLETC and CBP worked together to streamline the training process, reducing training from 91 to 81 training days by next year (an 11% reduction).

Capital Investments, Tactical Infrastructure & Technology

In addition to the immediate supply of personnel, our strong partnership with the National Guard under Operation Jump Start will also help us get tactical infrastructure out more quickly and at a reduced cost. The supplemental will allow us to spend $250 million in the Yuma and Tucson sectors on vehicle barriers, roads, pedestrian fences, and permanent lighting.

Immediate capital investments are also required to ensure that the increasing number of men and women in the field have the tools necessary to accomplish their mission. CBP is buying new vehicles and upgrading facilities in key locations within the Tucson, Yuma, and El Paso sectors. Control of vast stretches of the border requires air support to Border Patrol Agents on the ground. The supplemental will enhance surveillance by purchasing 2 additional Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and 5 additional light observation helicopters. An additional 8 light enforcement helicopters will provide direct support to enforcement operations.

Enforcement of Immigration Laws in the Interior

Ensuring the security of our nation’s borders requires that we not only secure the actual line of the border, but also address the continuation of the violation that occurs when aliens remain illegally in the United States.

Finding and deporting alien fugitives – i.e., those aliens who have been ordered removed from the country but who failed to show for their court date or for removal – is a key element of this enforcement. To that end, DHS is aggressively expanding the number of ICE Fugitive Operations teams – with 38 in place today and another 14 coming on line in the near future. The 2006 supplemental of $20M will help give us accelerate the hiring of another 18 teams in 2007.

The supplemental provides funding to expand our current partnerships under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act which authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to enter into written agreement to delegate limited immigration enforcement authority to state and local officers. Currently, we have 7 local law enforcement participants in the 287(g) program, with another 11 currently seeking ICE’s assistance. Approximately 160 State and local law enforcement officers have been trained; we will look to train many more over the next year. We are encouraged by the success of this program to date, with the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADOC) stated in July that their participation in the ICE 287(g) program resulted in taxpayer savings of $2.9 million.

Secure Border Initiative

SBI addresses the challenges we face by integrating the correct mix of increased staffing, greater investment in detection technology and infrastructure, and enhanced coordination with our partners at the Federal, state, local, and international levels for every segment of our Nation’s borders. SBInet will integrate multiple state of the art systems and traditional security infrastructure into a single comprehensive border security suite for the department. Under SBI, DHS wants to create a common operating picture for our law enforcement professionals, via the use of integrated sensors and other interoperable technologies and systems. The technologies will help these men and women detect, identify and respond to illegal activities.

SBI undertakes an integrated approach for future deployments of personnel, infrastructure and technology. The deployment of the various components will consider current intelligence, operational environment and field commander’s requirements. For example, one portion of the border may require more technology in relation to personnel than another portion, or may require more tactical infrastructure improvements than either personnel or technology. SBI will not be a ‘one-size-fits all’ deployment.

Though still under development, the expected scope and investment required to deliver SBInet also requires careful government stewardship. DHS is leveraging industry expertise and evaluating a variety of proposals from potential systems integrators, and limiting risk by emphasizing commercially available, non-developmental technologies for near-term solutions. The government is also intent upon accountability and oversight, incorporating performance metrics and subcontractor competition in our continual evaluation of which ever systems integrator is selected.

Also, DHS Office of Science and Technology (S&T) provides in-house government expertise to evaluate industry’s solutions and delivered products. S&T is supporting SBI by providing the system engineering tools, processes, and manpower to ensure SBI implementation is effective and affordable. In addition to providing systems integration, analysis and engineering support, S&T is developing an integrated systems model. Using modeling & simulation, SBI decision makers will have the tools to make informed choices for investment strategies and program and policy formulation. The decision makers will understand 1) where to invest scarce resources (i.e. how many agents, how many detention beds, technology, fences, etc), 2) understand the consequences of trade-off decisions, and 3) where the gaps and risks are located. The first phase of this model is scheduled to be delivered next month.

Conclusion

Securing our nations borders is one of my top priorities as the Secretary of Homeland Security. I believe that we have a specific, operationally practical strategy, and we are moving forward as an integrated agency. The strategic framework provided by the Secure Border Initiative will incorporate existing work into a comprehensive solution for the future. Improved intelligence and international co-operation, increased and more efficient use of detention space, the deployment of the National Guard, and additional border and interior enforcement personnel have combined to establish a quick and effective fast start. The funding in the supplemental builds upon this and previous efforts and will allow DHS to take great strides towards our goal. I thank you for again your strong oversight and support.

What is needed to solve this problem, are leaders who are committed to enforcing our laws. If DHS enforced our immigration and labor laws, there would be no need to spend 10 billion dollars to remove 10% of illegal aliens, they would deport themselves. Also, if they fined the businesses that are employing the aliens, they could use that money to pay for the enforcement, so it wouldn't cost the taxpayers a dime.

Our leaders are talking out both sides of their mouths, they're saying they want border security and enforcement, but their actions say otherwise. What they really want is to keep the flow of cheap labor coming.

November is not very far away, and if they think we aren't watching them closely, they're in for a big surprise, come election time.

I get a feeling that this is could be tied to the Pence Bill. As soon as the borders are secure, they can declare amnesty.