REPUBLICANS INSIST THEY CARE ABOUT SECURING THE BORDER

Rep. Tom Cotton (R-AR): Border Security a "Top Priority" for Republicans:

Rep. Tom Cotton, who'll be sworn in as the youngest member of the Senate in January, says securing the U.S.-Mexico border is a top priority for him and other Republicans." [Politico, 11/30/14]

...BUT THEY'RE THREATENING TO PUT FUNDING FOR IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY ON A SHORT-TERM INSTALLMENT PLAN, CREATING UNCERTAINTY THAT HAMSTRINGS OUR BORDER SECURITY

WSJ: New House Republican Plan Excludes Immigration:

If Republicans can't find enough votes to pass the longer-term spending bill, they may have to fall back on a stopgap measure that would keep the government running at its current levels into early 2015, imposing a new fiscal deadline on Republicans just as they take the helm of both chambers. To avoid that, GOP leaders are discussing an idea that merges the two options: passing a bill that would keep all of the government funded through September, except for the Department of Homeland Security, which would be extended just through March. That would put immigration-related funding on a separate timeline. [WSJ, 12/1/14]

CQ: House GOP Leaders Will Separate Immigration and Border Security:

House GOP leaders are likely to float a proposal in their conference next week to fund most government agencies through September 2015, while providing a shorter-term stopgap component for immigration-related programs and initiatives. ... Price's strategy - which has been put forward by others independently - would punt the immigration fight to early next year and separate it from the must-pass spending legislation, which could rankle some rank-and-file lawmakers who want to have the battle now. [CQ, 11/25/14]

BORDER SECURITY IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR THESE GAMES. FUND OUR BORDER SECURITY

The U.S. Has More Agents on the Southern Border than Ever Before: The U.S. has put more boots on the ground along the Southern Border than ever. In FY 2013, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employed 21,391 Border Patrol agents in total, with 18,611 Border Patrol agents assigned to the Southwest border. [CBP, accessed 9/29/14]

CBP Has Dedicated Significant Resources To Securing The Southwest Border.  Today, CBP has completed approximately 700 total miles of primary, secondary, tertiary, and vehicle fencing across the southwest border, installed 300 radar and camera towers and 11,863 underground sensors, and acquired 107 aircrafts and eight unmanned aerial vehicles. [White House, 5/11; DHS, 10/9/14]