Speech #930269117

Mr. Speaker. a recent decision by the Office of Management and Budget has reaffirmed the historical role of the Immigration Services Border Patrol of protecting the 1.900 miles along this countrys Southwestern border between major ports of entry. The OMB decision was necessitated by the October 1973. revival by the Customs Service of their Customs Patrol. an organization which the Customs Service abandoned in This addition by the Customs Service of about 400 agents to the same area now patrolled by the INS Border Patrol has resulted in a divided law enforcement effort with instances of wasteful. duplicative programs. Single agency administration in specific areas is needed to counter the two major threats of illegal entry of aliens and narcotics and dangerous drugs in this country. After conducting a thorough study. it was concluded that border law enforcement could be conducted with a maximum of efficiency and a minimum of expense by: First. designating the Immigration Border Patrol as the single agency for routine patrol of the land border between ports of entry. second. designating the Customs Service as the lead agency for border air interdiction. and third. directing the Customs Service to undertake a study of whether single agency management should be implemented at Mexican border ports of entry. A description of the Immigration and Naturalization Services border patrol and its present work supports the merits of this decision. Since 1924. the border patrol has maintained the responsibility for securing the vast open areas between major ports of entry on the United StatesMexican border. The 1.770 officers of the border patrolall of them fluent in Spanish and thoroughly trained after a 16week course prior to entry on dutyhave demonstrated themselves to be sensitive to thu Mexican culture found below ne border and the MexicanAmerican heritage encountered on this side of the border. The southwestern region of the Immigration Service is organized into 10 sectors with a total of 68 stations and 1.600 border patrolmen. In fiscal year 1973. the Immigration Service apprehended 453.171 illegal aliens along the southwest border. 170.538 of these illegal aliens were picked up crossing the border. The smuggling of most dangerous drugs is confined to the ports of entry. But the smuggling of marihuana is a different matter. Last year. operating along the border between ports of entry. the Immigration border patrol intercepted 194.229 pounds of marihuana. Tlis fiscal year. estimating on the basis of 10 months seizure. the border patrol will probably seize 231.190 pounds of marihuana. Probably the most important reason that the Congress should support the decision to keep the border patrol on duty between ports of entry in that the border patrol is an inplace. instride organization which can readily accept the dual responsibility for the interception of illicit drugs and illegal aliens. Mr. Speaker. the border study has resulted in declaration of responsibility and accountability which can only result in an assurance that this countrys border security forces are deployed in the most efficient and most effective fashion possible. I think that it is incumbent upon the Congress to support the Immigration Services responsibility for securing the border between major ports of entry.