A strategy on border security - A Republican Senator From Idaho Speaks Out

WashingtonExaminer ^ | August 4, 2005

[Happy2BMe]

A strategy on border securityBy Mike Crapo In May, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff stated, "The issue of securing the border is a homeland security issue, it's an immigration issue and it's also a humanitarian issue." He is absolutely correct: discussions about securing our 5,500-mile Canadian border, 1,900-mile Mexican border and 95,000 miles of shoreline are only meaningful in the context of defense, immigration and respect for human life. As the Homeland Security Appropriations bill goes to conference, Congress is developing a comprehensive strengthening of our borders as a major component of this legislation. Border security requires tight controls at our borders and follow-up by manpower and technology within our borders. Annually: - 16 million cargo containers enter the U.S. - 500 million people cross our borders, 330 million are non-citizens - 11 million undocumented aliens live in the U.S. These numbers represent an enormous and daunting risk that requires us to be proactive in vigilance and preparation. Our borders will be strong, secure and meaningful when they represent freedom and protection for those in compliance with the law. Effective border security is well-funded and reinforced by laws that carry tough legal consequences for those who break them. Various border and immigration components must be strengthened including more agents, immigration investigators and other enforcement personnel; quality training for these positions; hardware and infrastructure to augment job success, including unmanned aerial vehicles, high-tech sensors and advanced physical barriers; technology upgrades for cargo inspection and identification of fraudulent immigration documents; additional capacity at temporary detention centers. The FY 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill aims to fund 1,000 new border patrol agents, 300 additional immigration investigators and 460 new detention and enforcement agents and officers. This would raise the total numbers to 12,500 border patrol agents, 6,100 criminal investigators, 2,700 immigration enforcement agents and detention officers. The legislation provides additional funds for training, operations of the fourth northern border airwing and replacement of aging helicopters. More than 2,200 new detention facility beds will be added bringing the total to 22,700 and 41 ports, up from 19, will be utilizing the new Container Security Initiative to screen high-risk cargo before it leaves foreign ports. The bill funds camera and sensor technology and construction along the Mexican and Canadian borders, and calls for the development of advanced radiation portal monitors. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security has allowed us to integrate homeland defense, focusing particular attention on border security. Funds have been allocated to develop radiological, biological, chemical and nuclear countermeasures, biosurveillance and threat and vulnerability assessments. It has been four years since an attack and while the events in London are only the latest indicators that this war isn't over, our law enforcement has been very successful in deterrence efforts. They are to be commended on their vigilance, while ensuring that individual liberties and freedoms have been meticulously safe-guarded and defended. It's the responsibility of the federal government to protect us at home. Truly successful homeland defense has another component - personal vigilance. Americans can contribute by being alert. If you see something that doesn't look right, report it. The combination of watchful citizens, effective laws and adequate personnel and resources will preserve our homeland freedom. Mike Crapo is a Republican senator from Idaho.

[Happy2BMe]

Are you speaking in future tense, Senator?

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"Our borders will be strong, secure and meaningful when they represent freedom and protection for those in compliance with the law.

[gubamyster]

ping

[cripplecreek]

These days the GOP has about as much credibility on border control as a denunciation of terrorism from CAIR

[Happy2BMe]

There appears to be conflicting messages coming from our government regarding how homeland security and border control should be working together as one effort to restore confidence in Americans that they live in a secure nation once again.

Q: Does this "reporting" factor to the personal diligence and security of our homeland include turning in employers of illegal aliens?

(Does illegal alien immigration pose any threat to homeland security at all?)

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It's the responsibility of the federal government to protect us at home.

Truly successful homeland defense has another component - personal vigilance.

Americans can contribute by being alert. If you see something that doesn't look right, report it.

[Ron H.]

These days the GOP has about as much credibility on border control as a denunciation of terrorism from CAIR

If this wasn't such a serious subject I could probably otherwise ROTFLMAO.

[EagleUSA]

Americans can contribute by being alert. If you see something that doesn't look right, report it.
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We have. Ten million illegal Mexicans (and others) in our country. And there is no CONFLICTING POSITION from Washington. It is very clear what their useless, irresponsible position is.

[DumpsterDiver]

Are you speaking in future tense, Senator?

Who knows. This is getting difficult to keep track of. I can't tell if Senator Crapo is talking about the spending bill approved last month, or if he is talking about new legislation. The numbers bandied about are similar, so I think he is talking about the bill passed last month.

July 15 - The Senate approved $31.8 billion to fund the Homeland Security Department for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Among the bill's provisions: 1,000 new border agents 740 new agents and investigators 2,240 new detention beds to hold illegal aliens in custody.

Aug 9, 2005 - The FY 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill aims to fund 1,000 new border patrol agents, 300 additional immigration investigators and 460 new detention and enforcement agents and officers. 2,200 new detention facility beds

[bayourod]

From the website of CBP:
"70 percent of all maritime containers shipped to the United States are being screened through CBP’s Container Security Initiative (CSI). Developed in response to 9/11, CSI has rapidly expanded to 38 ports throughout in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America – including the 20 ports shipping the greatest volume of containers to the United States."

The article upon which this thread is based recognizes the fact that we have over 100,000 miles of border to secure. Securing the borders from terrorists and WMDs begins half way across the planet with agents in every country. Waiting until they reach our border and then depending on a fence to stop them is insanity.

People who say that President Bush isn't doing anything to secure our borders simply don't know the facts. All they are capable of understanding are fences and guards on the border.

Fences don't stop subs:

P>"Police in Colombia say they have found a half-built submarine in a warehouse in a suburb of the capital Bogota. This is huge - we're talking about being able to load up to 200 tonnes of cocaine in this submarine.
... US Drug Enforcement Agency said the 30 metre (100ft) vessel would have been capable of carrying huge quantities of cocaine or heroin. ......Bogota is landlocked and lies 2,250 metres (7,500 ft) above sea level, but is a source of high-quality building materials - which may explain why it was chosen as a submarine boatyard. "

[mtbopfuyn]

The FY 2006 Homeland Security Appropriations bill aims to fund 1,000 new border patrol agents, 300 additional immigration investigators and 460 new detention and enforcement agents and officers.

A mere drop in an already leaking bucket.

[Happy2BMe]

There does appear to be a communication glitch among the various agencies (hired by the tax payers) to get their numbers right.

Speaking of 'legislation' . .

Here's one the OBL definitely wants to sweep under the Rio Grande during flood season (not a single Democrat sponsored it):

Citizenship Reform Act of 2005 HR 698 IH - to deny citizenship at birth to children whose parents are not citizens

Citizenship Reform Act of 2005 HR 698 IH - to deny citizenship at birth to children whose parents are not citizens

[Dat Mon]

We have between ten and twenty million illegals in this country.

How did they get here...by submarine?

[Happy2BMe]

Cocain, hashish, and heroin aren't the only things that sub could have carried.

Good catch.

[kellynla]

Here's a start.

[Leatherneck_MT]

I see nothing in here that will be the most damaging to ILLEGAL immigration.

Tough NEW Penalties on businesses that hire these people.

Without it you are pissing in the wind.

[bayourod]

"How did they get here...by submarine? "

Some got here by sea, not just from Asia and the Caribbean, but also from Mexico and South America.

The sub building shipyard of smugglers in the mountains of a land locked nation just underscores the lenght to which people will go to violate our borders.

That giant sucking sound you hear is the American economy and consumer sucking in drugs and laborers. Until we address the demand side of the equation, the border is not going to be secure.

[Travis McGee]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Dat Mon]

You havent answered my initial question...how did the majority of those ten-twenty million illegals get here in the first place?

Your comment..."Until we address the demand side of the equation, the border is not going to be secure." is interesting.

What is the demand side of the equation in your view?

[hosepipe]

[ These days the GOP has about as much credibility on border control as a denunciation of terrorism from CAIR ]

LoL...
True.. The Mexican border is not secure because this administration does NOT WANT the border secure.. Basically the border is not secure ON PURPOSE.. But then, the democrat party has been aborting their future members for generations why not IMPORT some proto-type democrats from Mexico(and other places)..

The only mystery is.. WHY are republicans DOING IT.?.
ON PURPOSE?... maybe they are not republicans AT ALL..

[hosepipe]

[ We have between ten and twenty million illegals in this country. ]

You mean illegal Mexicans.?. bet there are several million other nationalitys here too.. On second thought.. counting illegals is a chancy game.. because they are illegal counting them can only BE an estimate.. What if the estimate is very LOW.. Few officals (that do the counting) would be HEROS coming up with a high figure in the present political envioroment.. SOooo. yeah.. you got it..

[taxed2death]

Betweem Bay Buchannon, Submarines and ICE... how do you manage to get any sleep at night?


LOL


What's next on your worry list.....treefrogs, flying saucers?