FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2000
CONTACT: Lisette McSoud Mondello
INS AGREES TO IMPLEMENT HUTCHISON BORDER PATROL PAY RAISE
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Justice Department has notified Congress of its intent to implement pay raises for Border Patrol agents in compliance with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's addition to this year's Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) budget. The Senator's legislation called for across-the-board pay raises for experienced Border Patrol agents if the agency did not hire the full complement of 1,000 new agents this year.
The Justice Department is seeking Congressional approval before implementing the raises. When approved, the $9 million in raises for the agents will begin in June.
"I'm disappointed that the Justice Department will not meet its goal of hiring an additional 1,000 Border Patrol agents this year. But, unlike last year, due to my directive, the available funds will be spent on pay increases and not office supplies," Senator Hutchison said. "This will not only boost the morale of current agents, but it will also allow us to better recruit the kind of qualified officers we need to strengthen the force."
In 1999 Senator Hutchison added two amendments to the FY 2000 budget aimed at strengthening the Border Patrol. Those amendments called for the hiring of 1,000 additional new agents, as outlined in the 1996 immigration reform act, or increasing the compensation for Border Patrol agents. The funds provided could be used only for either of those two purposes. The second measure authorized the INS Commissioner to pay a language-proficiency bonus to agents fluent in Spanish.
Currently, the average Border Patrol agent's pay is capped at a GS-9 level, roughly $34,000 a year for an agent with several years experience. Under the Hutchison legislation, agents will be eligible to be paid at a GS-11 level, an approximate $7,000 increase. The actual amount will vary based on where a particular agent is stationed.
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