Bush budget scraps 9,790 border patrol agents

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/9/2004 | Michael Hedges

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Washington - The law signed by President Bush less than two months ago to add thousands of border patrol agents along the U.S.-Mexico border has crashed into the reality of Bush's austere federal budget proposal, officials said Tuesday.

Officialy approved by Bush on Dec. 17 after extensive bickering in Congress, the National Intelligence Reform Act included the requirement to add 10,000 border patrol agents in the five years beginning with 2006. Roughly 80 percent of the agents were to patrol the southern U.S. border from Texas to California, along which thousands of people cross into the United States illegally each year.

But Bush's proposed 2006 budget, revealed Monday, funds only 210 new border agents.

The shrunken increase reflects the lack of money for an army of border guards and the capacity to train them, officials said.

'snip'

The law signed by Bush had a caveat that went virtually unreported at the time. A summary, published by the Senate Government Affairs Committee, required the government to increase the number of border agents by at least 2,00 per year, "subject to available appropiations."

Democrats were unhappy that the proposed budget used the escape clause so soon after the president approved the huge boost in border agents.

'snip'

Some Republicans were also displeased.

"This is an area of homeland security that needs to be ramped up in order to increase surveillance and patrols of our nation's vast and often remote borders," said Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, chair of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

[Once-Ler]

We could compensate for this loss by letting the civilian groups pick up the slack.

Yeah, but they will still need to be compensated for their time and effort. I figure 2000 civilian border patriots will cost the government $11 million a year. 2,000 patriots X 365days X a case of old milwaukee $15 = $10,950,000

[Once-Ler]

Possibly, it is because Bush is a globalist who dreams of Mexamerica.

Thank you for showing us all once again why you are called the right fringe. Dubya worked so hard to elect Republicans and win re-election and took his solemn inaugural oath so he could destroy America. Grow up.

[Once-Ler]

No flame. Bush will add thousands upon thousands to defend Iraq from terrorists but nothing to defend America from the immivasion from the south.

Gee maybe Dubya got confused by the fact that none of the Mexicans are blownin' stuff up.

[junta]

No only that illegal aliens from Mexico do form a large percentage of the crime rosters.

[Paul_Denton]

Why would I flame you? You, me and a lot of other people here agree that this is Bush's major flaw, immigration. Militarizing the border is absolutly vital to national security.

[shellshocked]

"Gee maybe Dubya got confused by the fact that none of the Mexicans are blownin' stuff up."

Illegals kill more each year than the 3,000 who died on 9/11. They account for a large percentage of inmates in our jails.

So, your snarky remark is nothing but blind support for the policy and void of any intelligent thought.

[MadIvan]

A $2.5 trillion dollar budget should make anyone feel like they're swallowing a peach pit. It's immense and awful to see that much government spending.

That said, I wonder why this is being cut when there are so many other juicy targets.

Regards, Ivan

[txdoda]

But the fact is that there has not been a single known terrorist who jumped the Souithern border, nor has one been caught trying. We have caught millions jumping the border (1 out of 3), if terrorists were using thsat method don't you think we would have caught at least one?

So 'rod' where are you getting your *facts* from, that you always post. ???

Here's what the Chairman of HDS Christopher Cox had to say about terrorists crossing our southern border.

"Border agents have reported an increased number of individuals from countries of national security interest -- countries known to harbor terrorists -- who have been smuggled recently across our borders.

"In 2004, border patrol agents arrested over 650 suspected terrorists from countries of national security interest trying to cross the southern border, and they expect the number will rise this year.

[txdoda]

OOPS !!! here's the link...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1340430/posts

[bayourod]

Those must be from the new parts of the commission report just released today. There was nothing in the original report to that effect.

If there is new evidence just released or declassified that proves me wrong on something I will admit that I was wrong.

But I have always carefully said that there have never been any confirmed cases of terrorists jumping the southern border. I've never denied that people have been arrested as suspected terrorists, we all know of a number of those cases, and followed them to the point where is was determined that they were not terrorists. Example, the six Chinese headed to Boston.

There is nothing in this article that confirms that a terrorist has jumped the southern border.

My "facts" are still valid, and may even be stronger when we see the new commission reports in toto instead of out of context

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Typo, should read 2,000 per year.

[txdoda]

But I have always carefully said that there have never been any confirmed cases of terrorists jumping the southern border.

*Confirmed* terrorists ??? Too bad now days most confirmed terrorists are also DEAD terrorists, along with the innocents they kill.

Up until they attack, I'm sure many are just only *suspected* terrorists, & many *unknown* at all.

At any rate, using gov't own capture rates, I hope everyone feels safe with possibly some 1300 *suspected* terrorists, crossing safely into the USA, via our southern border last year.