Speech #1010110491

Mr. Speaker. recent press accounts have been critical of the size of the U.S. Border Patrol and its ability to enforce immigration laws at our borders. In January 1989. the INS implemented a hiring freeze at a time when on board strength in the Border Patrol reached a high of 4.800. As of December 31. 1988. 4.813 positions had been filled of the total 5.493 positions authorized by a provision I authored in the Immigration Reform and Control Act [IRCAI to increase the Border Patrol personnel by at least 50 percent in fiscal years 1987 and 1988. This represents 88 percent of the total increase authorized. While the INS has made efforts to meet the mandate for increased personnel. budget considerations have prevented them from bringing new agents on board as rapidly as we had hoped. Earlier this year I testified before the House Budget Committee with other Judiciary Committee members to renew my concerns over our Border Patrols strength and to request full funding for enforcement activities. Thb Commerce. State. Justice. fiscal year 1990 appropriation includes $845 million for the INS with $9 million earmarked for Border Patrol staffing of 200 additional agents above the fiscal year 1989 levels of 4.500. I am pleased that Congress has set aside this amount to increase our Border Patrol strength. At a time of record drug seizures. and unrest and upheaval in Central America. continuing to increase the strength of the Border Patrol to the level of funding authorized by the Moorhead amendment is both wise and prudent. Apprehensions of illegal aliens at the southern border began to show a significant decline over the past 2 fiscal years. While this was primarily due to fear of employer sanctions. another IRCA provision. the authorization of additional agents at the border certainly contributed to deterring illegals from crossing. I am disturbed by the fact that since the INS hiring freeze took effect and in the past few months in particular. the number of apprehensions has increased. showing an upward trend and leading us to believe that the number of illegals crossing the border is once again on the rise. Public perception is important on both sides of the border. and the awareness aroused by reports that Border Patrol strength is currently declining along with recent attempts in Congress to grant additional amnesty requests is sending the wrong message to foreigners wishing to enter our country illegally. In 1988. drug seizures by Border Patrol personnel were significantly up over 1987 levels. The cocaine seized was 10 times the amount seized Just 3 years earlier. Border Patrol drug interdiction operations have been a clear success. accounting for 60 percent of the drugs seized on the southern border. We must continue to maintain a strong presence at our borders with increased drug interdiction operations. There is strong support from the American people for the Congress and the Bush administration to work together and take whatever actions necessary to increase border security and enforce U.S. immigration laws.