FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2005
CONTACT: Chris Paulitz
SENATOR HUTCHISON WORKS TO INCLUDE BORDER SECURITY
IN EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING LEGISLATION
New bill provides border security funding and sets stricter immigration standards
WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), one of the conferees for the Fiscal Year 2005 Emergency Defense Supplemental bill, today voted for final passage of the legislation that provides additional funding for the War on Terror, $274 million in border patrol funds and sets tougher immigration standards.
Sen. Hutchison played a leading role in brokering the border patrol funding. The deal was based on her amendment to the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Resolution to fund the full 2,000 border patrol agents authorized by the Intelligence Reform bill. The 500 agents funded in the supplemental bill will be a down payment on the 2,000 and she will continue to work for the balance during the regular appropriations process. The final version of the spending bill passed by the Senate today also includes stricter immigration and asylum standards.
“September 11 and new intelligence reports serve as constant reminders that we must strengthen our borders as a main line of defense. We must secure our borders and implement stricter identification requirements that will slow the tide of illegal aliens – with possible terrorist ties – living within our borders,” Sen. Hutchison said. “The War on Terror is being fought on multiple fronts which is why I insisted this wartime legislation address border security as well as funding for our troops.”
The $274 million in border patrol funds will provide for 500 border patrol agents, 50 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators, 168 detention officers, 1,950 detention beds and $4 million for officer training.
Other domestic security measures included in the bill are immigration provisions based on those dropped from the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004. Specifically, these provisions set standards of proof for asylum seekers. Weak asylum laws have been a vehicle used by terrorists to enter or remain within our borders once they arrive. The new immigration law allows for the protection of honest asylum seekers while preventing terrorists from claiming persecution just to stay in the United States.
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