But we feel so strongly about this. the American people feel so strongly about it. I believe it is essential that we make it loud and clear what we do want. Now. having said that. on the issue. for instance. of Border Patrol agents. the appropriations bill for fiscal year 2007 will include 1.200 new Border Patrol agents. That will get us up to 14.580. an increase of almost 50 percent over the last several years. There are 1.012 new ICE officers. which will get us up to 11.500. This appears to be about as many as the system can absob as we train new officers. and we are going forward with that. If more are needed. I pledge to the ranking member we will work to bring that about as we go into the next session. But it Is essential that we do this today to tell the American people that we have gotten the message. that we are willing to take the action that is needed. we are willing to go on the line this is needed. this is essential. and we are calling for it. we are demanding it. we are voting for it. The easiest way to say that we are going to do the right thing on illegal immigration. to stop illegal immigration. and also to be humane and stop the deaths in the desert. I was at the desert with Speaker HASTERT and Congressman RUSH and Congresswoman MILLER this past July. went to Yuma and Nogales in Arizona. we helicoptered across the desert. To me. a fence is absolutely essential in certain parts of that border.
Keywords matched
ICE officers illegal immigration Border Patrol