For Immediate Release
September 29, 2006



House Acts to Secure America's Border


WASHINGTON, DC— Congressman Chris Cannon (R-UT) today announced that the House of Representatives will act on the FY 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report (H.R. 5441), legislation that funds critical measures designed to strengthen America’s border security.  H.R. 5441, which provides $21.3 billion for border protection and immigration enforcement, is scheduled to be brought to the House floor later today.

 

This bill addresses one of the major concerns facing our country, the flow of illegal immigration.  This bill will help strengthen our borders, help enforce our laws, and provide funding for more border patrols.  Though it won’t solve the problem completely, we need to pass this bill,” Cannon said. 

 

Among the border security measures included in the Homeland Security conference agreement are:

  • $2.77 billion for border patrol, adding 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, for a total of 14,800;
  • $1.2 billion for border fencing, vehicle barriers, technology and infrastructure;
  • $4.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE);
  • $3.1 billion for the Coast Guard’s homeland security missions;
  • $1.38 billion for ICE custody operations, adding 6,700 detention beds, for a total of 27,500;
  • $28.2 million to assist state and local efforts to enforce immigration law;
  • $238 million for transportation and removal of undocumented aliens;
  • $600 million for Air and Marine Operations for border and airspace security;
  • $183 million for a total of 75 fugitive operations teams nation-wide, an increase of 23;
  • $137 million for the Criminal Alien Program;
  • $44 million for Alternatives to Detention;
  • $362 million for the US-VISIT program; and
  • $135 million to support immigration verification systems.