Border Issues
During my time in the Senate, I have advocated for a comprehensive approach to maintaining border security which focuses on implementing a forward thinking strategy that anticipates future threats and allocates sufficient resources to address those threats. To this end, I have consistently sought to secure funding for additional Border Patrol agents, surveillance cameras, and vehicle barriers, in an effort to stem the flow of illegal immigration and drugs and to prevent against potential terrorist activity.
News | Statements | Legislation | Votes
Highlights
(Links to complete listing below.)
Full Listing of Border Statements
This Congress Statements | Last Congress Statements
(These links will take you to Thomas, hosted by the Library of Congress.)
Highlights of Sponsored Legislation
(Links to complete listing below.)
Full Listing of Border Legislation
This Congress: Legislation Sponsored | Legislation Cosponsored
Last Congress: Legislation Sponsored | Legislation Cosponsored
(These links will take you to Thomas, hosted by the Library of Congress.)
Highlights
Only a small number of votes are highlighted here. See this listing of votes on the U.S. Senate website for for a full record.
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WHAT YOU’RE ASKING
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Established the Southwest New Mexico Border Security Task Force, which has brought together members of border communities, federal agencies, and local law enforcement, to discuss concrete ways that we can improve our border security
- Secured $3.8 million over the last two years for the New Mexico National Guard to build vehicle barriers along the border, man surveillance cameras, and dismantle vehicles used to smuggle drugs into the country
- Voted to authorize the National Guard to assist with security operations along the border
- Supported the hiring of an additional 14,000 Border Patrol agents over the next five years
- Cosponsored legislation to immediately hire and train an additional 500 Border Patrol agents on an emergency basis
- Secured approximately $5.5 million since 1999 for the Border Patrol to construct vehicle barriers along the New Mexico border
- Secured $150,000 for the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department to purchase a Specialty Command Post Vehicle to enhance communication between law enforcement agencies operating along the U.S.-Mexico border
- Supported legislation providing millions of dollars to purchase surveillance cameras, Unmanned Arial Vehicles, and other enforcement assets, and to
expand detention facilities
- Introduced, and passed in the Senate, the Border Law Enforcement Relief Act of 2005, which authorizes $50 million a year in grants to local and State law enforcement agencies located within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico law enforcement to cover some of the costs they incur as a result border-related criminal activity, including illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and the destruction of private property
- Supported legislation to reimburse State and local communities for the heath and detention costs they incur as a result of illegal immigration
- Successfully pressed the Administration to allocate additional resources to help secure New Mexico’s border.
Explore how this issue interacts with and influences other issues. [MORE]
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