Gregg Pleased Border Security Recieves Increased Funding in FY09 Budget Request

Press Release

GREGG PLEASED BORDER SECURITY RECEIVES INCREASED FUNDING IN FY09 BUDGET REQUEST
NH Senator praises increased commitment to secure borders and reduce illegal immigration

United States Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) today applauded the increased commitment to border security and reduction of illegal immigration reflected in the Administration's fiscal year 2009 budget request. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that FY 2009 funding for border security and immigration enforcement efforts would be increased by 19 percent over the current fiscal year's levels.

Sen. Gregg stated, "Securing the borders must be one of our top priorities, and I am pleased the Administration has strengthened their commitment to this effort. In light of recent progress along our borders, we need to keep pushing in the right direction and build momentum for more fencing, agents, detention beds, towers and other assets that are critical for achieving operational control. The request in this budget for increased funding levels is a good sign, and I am now more hopeful that we can continue building upon recent successes in improving border security.

"As former Chairman and current member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I have worked hard to boost funding levels for border security and immigration enforcement, including my successful efforts last year to add $3 billion in emergency border security funding to the Fiscal Year 2008 omnibus funding bill. I will continue working to ensure that this Congress will lead the charge on providing DHS with the resources it needs to gain control over our border and protect the homeland."

Background: Sen. Gregg Committed to Strengthening U.S. Borders
As former Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Senator Gregg has been influential in implementing policies and securing funding to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security - including and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - have the resources, personnel and technology necessary for securing U.S. borders. Thanks to funding that Senator Gregg has helped secure for the Department of Homeland Security, the Administration has been able to accomplish the following:

* To date, DHS has built more than 280 miles of pedestrian and vehicle fencing and plans on completing 670 miles by the end of FY 2008;
* DHS now has approximately 32,000 detention beds and has ended its "catch-and-release" policy along the Southwest border;
* More that 15,000 CBP agents have been hired, and CBP is now on track to meet its recruitment goal of 20,000 border agents by October 2009;
* Last year, ICE set a new record by removing 276,000 illegal immigrants, and it has initiated removal proceedings against 164,000 criminal aliens in our nation's prisons;
* 34 states and municipalities are now involved in the 287(g) program, up from only 2 in 2005. Under this program, ICE helps train and provides resources to state and local law enforcement to investigate, detain, and arrest aliens on civil and criminal grounds.

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