(Washington, DC, July 23, 2004)—Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen has introduced legislation to require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to establish at least one Border Patrol Unit in the Virgin Islands.

Citing the territory’s problems with drug and alien smuggling and as a vulnerable point in the nation’s southern defenses, Delegate Christensen maintains that the lack of a Border Patrol Unit is perhaps the single most important missing ingredient in securing the Territory. “With over 175 miles of unprotected and open borders, the Virgin Islands are the gateway to the U.S. and our nation’s southernmost border,” Delegate Christensen said. “It appears that today, the territory is also the gateway of choice for human smugglers,” she added, explaining that since 1998, more than 500 Chinese nationals have entered the territory.

Christensen, who is a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, intended to introduce the measure as an amendment to the Homeland Security Authorization Act, but a planned mark-up was re-scheduled and she introduced it as a bill instead.  The Delegate plans to offer the amendment once more when the Congress reconvenes in September.

Delegate Christensen said that the lack of a border patrol in the territory has forced the Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit and the National Park Service to spend too many man hours apprehending, processing, detaining and watching aliens in custody.

“Having a Border Patrol Unit assigned to the territory would also give the territory more tools to deal with drug smuggling, which underlies much of the crime problem in our community,” the Delegate said.  She cited the connection between trafficking and terrorism.  “It has been noted that one third of listed terrorist organizations are involved in drug trafficking,” she added.

Delegate Christensen said that talks with Robert Bonner, the Director of Customs and Border Protection have been fruitful.  She also thanked Agent Edwin Torres of St. Croix’s Customs and Border Protection unit for his input in the legislation.