Napolitano: These sequester cuts will make it tougher to secure the border and fight terrorism

Hotair ^

[chessplayer]

And there it is: The ultimate panic-inducing cherry on top of the sequester-scaremongering sundae. Apart from the devastating, eviscerating, meat-cleaving threats of flight delays, park closures, and whooping cough, the existential threat that is the dreaded sequesteration is going to make it much more difficult for the Department of Homeland Security to perform one of its primary functions: Thwarting terrorism. Via WaPo:

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned Monday that her agency would be forced to furlough 5,000 border control agents under mandatory spending cuts, likely allowing more illegal immigrants into the country and potentially compromising national security.

Napolitano said the cuts, known as the sequester, would disrupt the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to conduct customs inspections at ports, leading to increased waiting times for travelers and cargo shipments. Disaster relief funding would be reduced by $1 billion, she added, meaning relief for victims of natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy and tornados in Joplin, Mo., and Tuscaloosa, Ala., could be cut. …

Asked if the cuts would make the country more susceptible to acts of terrorism, Napolitano said: “It’s always a threat. We do what we can to minimize the risk, but the sequester makes it awfully, awfully tough.”

[econjack]

Obozo loves his Executive Orders, so why not use one and hold a press conference and say: “As of today, every agency except for the military and border patrol has a 10 percent reduction in staffing costs. If you cannot provide equal or better service with these reduced funds, I will find someone who can. Have a nice day.”

[DaveA37]

Pure BULLSH%T! “Secure our borders” Due to Janet’s incompentence and orders from Odumbo and his ilk, there is NO border security to speak of. Our border patrol does the best job they can, unfortunaltey with their hands tied. We have had thousands of illegals in our hands and now Odumbo, Holder and good ole Janet are now letting them go. The illegals are ALREADY WITHING OUR BORDERS.

We MUST get rid of Washington completely and start over.

[DaveA37]

Pure BULLSH%T! “Secure our borders” Due to Janet’s incompentence and orders from Odumbo and his ilk, there is NO border security to speak of. Our border patrol does the best job they can, unfortunaltey with their hands tied. We have had thousands of illegals in our hands and now Odumbo, Holder and good ole Janet are now letting them go. The illegals are ALREADY WITHING OUR BORDERS.

We MUST get rid of Washington completely and start over.

[KittenClaws]

Pure BULLSH%T! “Secure our borders” Due to Janet’s incompentence and orders from Odumbo and his ilk, there is NO border security to speak of. Our border patrol does the best job they can, unfortunaltey with their hands tied. We have had thousands of illegals in our hands and now Odumbo, Holder and good ole Janet are now letting them go. The illegals are ALREADY WITHING OUR BORDERS.

Tell me about it..The Feds tie the hands of the Border Patrol in many ways. It is citizens that suffer the consequence.

We MUST get rid of Washington completely and start over

What boils me is, they feel the same way about US. They can hardly contain their tyrannical desires to destroy us. They have also become very emboldened "recently".

[Libloather]

...likely allowing more illegal immigrants into the country and potentially compromising national security.

Illegals are a threat? Good to know.