Speech #1020013127

Mr. Speaker. on February 21. 1991. I introduced H.R. 1092. authorizing the Secretary of Defense to assign Department of Defense [DOD] personnel to assist the Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS] and the U.S. Customs Service perform their border protection functions. The legislation specifically authorizes the Secretary of Defense to assign not more than 10.000 DOD personnel to U.S. borders annually to assist the INS and the Customs Service in preventing the entry of terrodsts. drug traffickers. and illegal aliens Into the United States. I believe that this legislation is greatly needed. The border patrol has a strength of only 3.800. yet its mission Is to quard the two long borders of one of the largest countries of the world. Reports indicate that. at any given time. only 800 patrolmen are available to protect our 2.000 mile southern border. Congress has repeatedly failed to provide funding necessary to enlarge the border patrol. Until Congress can find the money. this military option Is the best shortterm way to address this shortage of border patrol personnel protecting our borders. Until our borders are fully protected. illegal Immigrants. drug traffickers and possible terrorIsts will have an open invitation to cross Into the United States undetected. It is believed that as many as 3 million people cross into the United States illegally annually. many of them will take jobs away from Americans who need them. At the same time. drug traffickers take advantage of unpatrolled borders to smuggle illicit drugs into the United States that will be sold on our streets and destroy our children. In addition. with the threat of possible terrorist activity In the United States. t is Important to ensure that our borders are fully protected. Putting DOD personnel on the border to assist the insufficient number of border patrol already protecting our border Is the best way to address this overwhelming problem now. I urge my colleagues to do their part in protecting Americas borders by cosponsoring this important legislation.