The Federal Governments inability to stem the illegal traffic flowing across the border has shifted substantial financial and social burdens to residents of the border region. Recent action by minutemen along the Arizona border provided the Nation with an image of the frustration felt by many Americans. Border States are suffering from the immediate and downstream problems associated with illegal immigration. Our hospitals are burdened with enormous uncompensated costs. and so are our State and local law enforcement agencies. We simply need more manpower to protect the border in the near term. While I strongly believe that once we fix our broken immigration system. we will see the day that some of our border resources can be shifted to other priorities. until then Congress must have the will to take the action needed to reform our broken immigration system. We need to have a robust Border Patrol force hired. trained. and on the job. While providing solid resources to state and local officials to ensure the readiness of our first responders is imperative. the men and women serving in the Border Patrol are literally on the front lines in the fight to keep the terrorists out of our country. CIA Director Muller has said that more and more people from "countries of interest" are looking at our southwest border as a possible point of entry into the United States. Why shouldnt they. Hundreds of thousands and potentially millions of migrants who enter the United States illegally each year to work represent the perfect cover for potential terrorists. Of course. if others have offsets to suggest. that would be preferable. I am open to any and all options that will enable us to meet the full level of Border Patrol agents so desperately needed on the front lines. Mr. President.
Keywords matched
illegal immigration migrants Border Patrol immigration