Speech #1020028269

LowERY. PACKARD. and GALLEGLY. I am reintroducing H.R. 2071. legislation to authorize additional appropriations to increase Border Patrol personnel to 6.600 by the end of fiscal year 1994. This number reflects a continuation of the 50 percent increase that was enacted under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 [IRCA] for fiscal year 1987 and 1988. Many of us hoped that IRCA would have addressed the problem of illegal immigration. However. illegal entries are once again reaching record levels along our Southern border. and it is even more troubling that for every alien apprehended. at least three enter the United States successfully. The Office of National Drug Control Policy has designated the Border Patrol as the primary agency for narcotics interdiction between the ports of entry. in addition to being responsible for preventing the smuggling and illegal entry of aliens into the United States. Along the Southwest border. 4.000 drug seizures were made in fiscal year 1990. a sixfold increase over fiscal year 1985. Alien apprehensions were 23 percent higher in 1990 than in fiscal year 1989. Yet. since 1988. the number of st.f has declined by 9 percent. according to a recent GAO report. and the proportion of agent time devoted to border control activities has decreased from 71 to 60 percent. The percentage of authorized positions filled fell from 94 percent in fiscal year 1985 to 87 percent in fiscal year 1990. It is estimated it will take two to three times the number of agents currently on board to become an effective deterrent to the problems at the border. In the past 2 fiscal years. the border patrol has seized narcotics valued at well over $2 billion. In fiscal year 1990. the Immigration and Naturalization Service seized 23.077 conveyances. valued at $70 million. representing a 60 percent Increase over fiscal year 1989. The Border Patrol alone seized over $8 million in cash in fiscal year 1990 and received back $2 million from the asset forfeiture fund. It seems only fair and appropriate that some of this return should be designated to increase our border security. By the end of last fiscal year. the asset forfeiture fund had accumulated $460.000.000. That included forfeited cash as well as proceeds from the sale of forfeited properties. Thirteen million dollars remained in the fund as a carryover to this fiscal year. My legislation would make available amounts from the proceeds of asset forfeiture to be directed to fund additional Border Patrol personnel. The volume of drugs coming across the United StatesMexican border has exploded. Since 1987 the Border Patrol has reported an increase in assaults against its agents who continue to put their lives on the line on a daily basis. We have a relatively small force of dedicated and talented law enforcement personnel performing a nearly impossible task in policing our land borders. In todays climate. where the volume of drugs coming across the Unitcd StatesMexican border has exploded. and the flood of illegal aliens seems endless. it is critical that we provide the necessary resources and support personnel to enable our Border Patrol force to continue to perform the difficult task of protecting our borders.