WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today applauded the Senate's approval of a $600 million bill that will help protect Americans by improving security along the Southwest border. Passage of the bill came less than a week after Udall sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid urging quick action on border security legislation.
Udall is a cosponsor of the Senate measure, which will not add to the nation's deficit, and was overwhelmingly approved on Thursday night. It now must be considered by the full House, where U.S. Rep. Harry Teague has been a strong advocate for comprehensive border security legislation. Teague cosponsored a House version of the bill, which was also supported by U.S. Reps. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján.
The Senate version of the bill includes funding for unmanned surveillance drones, the deployment of forward operating bases close to the border, as well as additional Border Patrol agents, immigration and customs personnel and other law enforcement officers.
"Keeping residents safe from drug trafficking and increased violence along our border is a top priority. This legislation will give law enforcement agencies the tools and resources they need to do their jobs," Udall said. "It is an important step toward reaching our goal of comprehensive immigration reform. I urge the House to act quickly on this important bill and send it on to the President for his signature."
The legislation includes the following funding:
• $176 million for 1,000 new Border Patrol agents to form a "strike force" to be deployed at most-needed areas
• $50 million for 250 new ICE personnel, including special agents, intelligence analysts and support personnel
• $68 million for Customs and Border Protection to keep the current levels of officers and for 260 new officers at ports of entry
• $71 million for Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Drug Enforcement Administration agents along the border
• $32 million to deploy unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance drones
• $30 million for border interdiction by Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• $32 million for FBI agents and U.S. Marshals along the border
• $21 million for Interagency Crime and Drug Law enforcement along the border
• $20 million for the federal prison system to detain immigrant criminals
• $14 million for communication equipment for new officers
• $13 million for U.S. attorneys and other legal expenses
• $10 million for federal judiciary resources for an anticipated higher caseload
• $10 million for investigators to stop corruption in the Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection
• $8 million for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
• $7 million for border processing of apprehended drug dealers and human traffickers
• $6 million to deploy forward operating bases along the border (as opposed to using current bases that are 100 miles away)
• $2.1 million for expediting administrative review and appeals along the border
