President Bush signed into law the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. I was one of the conferees on that bill. I would remind our colleagues that it contained over 40 sections and 100 pages of immigrationrelated provisions. These tough but smart. new measures included. among others. adding thousands of additional Border Patrol agents. Immigration and Customs investigators. detention beds. and criminalizing the smuggling of immigrants. just as the 9/11 Commission recommended. Now. I am sure the American people assume that their Government not only implemented but also fully funded these tough measures to secure our borders and ensure our Nations safety. Unfortunately. the President and this Congress have chosen not to do so. In fact. as part of the fiscal year 2006 appropriations process. Congress has only funded 1.500 of the 2.000 new Border Patrol agents called for this year by that law. less than half of the 800 immigration enforcement investigators. less than half of the 8.000 additional detention beds required. So much for being tough and for fully funding what has already been passed and called for. While the Senate must be tough and smart in the legislation it passes.
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Immigration immigration immigrants Border Patrol immigrationrelated