Gordon, House Vote To Pass To Border Security Bill
Press Release
Gordon, House Vote to Pass to Border Security Bill
According to a U.S. Border Patrol report, illegal immigration in 2008 was at its lowest level since the 1970s. Yet, even with the decrease, an estimated 500,000 people entered the United States illegally last year. Late last night (June 24th), the U.S. House approved funds for 2010 to strengthen security along the U.S.-Mexico border and further reduce illegal immigration, as well as drug smuggling and violence along the border.
"The border situation directly affects Tennessee communities - our state has a major drug problem, especially with meth, and much of it comes from Mexico," said Congressman Bart Gordon, who strongly supported passage of the border security bill. "More needs to be done to secure our border. The extra funding included in this bill will increase the number of border agents and support initiatives that have proven to be effective in reducing drug trafficking."
The House-passed bill, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for FY 2010, included funds to increase the number of U.S. Border Patrol agents from 18,000 to more than 20,000. In 2004, there were only 9,000 agents when an estimated 800,000 people entered our country illegally.
"Last year, our border agents seized more than 2.9 million pounds of drugs, which is no small feat," added Gordon. "Still, according to a February report by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Mexico plays an increasingly dominant role in the importation and distribution of illegal drugs within Tennessee."
The bill increases funding for the Southwest Border Initiative, a collaborative effort among the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Justice to cut off resources of Mexican drug cartels. The Southwest Border Initiative has been especially successful at disrupting some of the largest Mexican drug smuggling organizations, rendering them unable to conduct business in the U.S.
The Homeland Security Appropriations bill also includes funds for border fencing, as well as mobile and remote video surveillance technologies to secure the border and combat drug trafficking. The Senate is currently working on a similar version of the Homeland Security funding bill and is expected to pass their bill in the next few weeks.
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