(Washington, DC, August 20, 2004)—Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen said today that she is pleased that an advance unit from the Department of Homeland Security visited the territory this week.

The Delegate met with members of the Office of Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security who were assessing the Virgin Islands as a point of entry that is of concern to national security.  “I believe that our message is getting through that our borders should be taken seriously and that we should have a presence here that will meet our needs and the needs of the nation,” Christensen said.  “I have repeatedly raised the issue with Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson and other leadership in the Homeland Security Department and I am pleased to see that there is movement in this area.”

Christensen has introduced legislation to implement a border patrol unit in the Virgin Islands.