FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2005
CONTACT: Chris Paulitz
SENATORS HUTCHISON, ENSIGN INTRODUCE BUDGET AMENDMENT TO CREATE 2,000 NEW BORDER AGENTS
Senators team up to protect America’s borders from terrorist infiltration
WASHINGTON, DC -- Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and John Ensign (R-NV) tonight teamed up and introduced an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution that creates 2,000 new border patrol agents without increasing nondiscretionary spending. This amendment brings this year’s number of new border patrol agents to the number required by the intelligence reform bill passed by Congress in December and signed into law by President Bush.
“When Congress passed the intelligence reform bill, we made clear the need for increased patrols along our borders,” Sen. Hutchison said. “Our border states are the frontline of our nation’s defense and have unique security burdens. And our border patrol agents are critical in protecting not only our borders from illegal immigration, but our homeland from terrorism.”
The intelligence bill passed last year provided for 2,000 new agents a year over five years, creating 10,000 new agents. The Hutchison/Ensign amendment provides $352 million for new agents. Instead of creating new spending, the funds would be transferred from international affairs, which has roughly $33 billion with which to work.
This week, Time magazine reported that Osama bin Laden sent word to Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi, instructing him to hit “soft targets” in the U.S. It was also reported that al-Zarqawi believes terrorists can bribe their way into the U.S. and cross over the Mexican border.
“We have new warnings that terrorists plan to gain entry to our country through our southern border,” Sen. Hutchison added. “We must immediately act on these warnings and protect our homeland.”
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