[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 69 (Tuesday, June 7, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         ENFORCING OUR BORDERS

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, last weekend, I went on Saturday night 
and Sunday to the southwest border in California for the third time in 
the last year. This 14-mile border in San Diego County accounts for 48 
percent of all of the arrests nationally that occur along our entire 
1,800-mile border.
  I have had a particular interest in, and worked last year as a member 
of the Appropriations Committee alongside Senator Domenici and Chairman 
Hollings, to obtain a much-needed $40 million appropriation dedicated 
to beefing up border enforcement by adding new Border Patrol agents, 
fencing, lighting and high-technology equipment.
  When I went to the border this last time, I am very proud to say that 
I saw a transformation taking place. I came away more convinced than 
ever that we can enforce our borders against illegal immigration if, as 
a nation, we choose to do so.
  I saw lights in place along the 14-mile border, a nearly complete 
border fence in place with just two small sections left to be built, 
and--perhaps most reassuringly--40 new Border Patrol agents just 
graduated from their training program and on the line.
  The difference was clear to see. The Border Patrol reports that it 
has improved its effectiveness by 14 percent. In other words, the 
fence, the lighting, and new agents have meant that the number of 
people apprehended has actually decreased. The word is spreading. 
Border enforcement is beginning to have an impact.
  On my previous visit to the border, 2,000 people were apprehended by 
the Border Patrol in a single Saturday night as they attempted to cross 
illegally. The Border Patrol told me then that an equal number got 
through. That means that the Border Patrol previously put its 
effectiveness at just 50 percent. When I visited again last week, I was 
told that--with the new resources already in place--the Patrol's 
effectiveness in the San Diego sector had increased to 60 percent. I am 
confident that more resources will mean even better enforcement of our 
border.
  INS Commissioner Doris Meissner has indicated that, with the balance 
of the appropriations that I helped secure for Fiscal Year 1994, 350 
new agents will be hired nationally, 300 of those will be deployed in 
the San Diego Sector. They, and 238 more agents to be hired by October 
1, 1994, will be equipped with encrypted radios, 222 new vehicles, 4 
``night scopes,'' and backed by 231 new support personnel. I look 
forward to again seeing for myself the difference in Border patrol 
effectiveness that these resources produce and will fight for further 
funding to push that effective- ness rating as close to 100 percent as 
possible.
  On a related matter, I was accompanied on my latest border visit by 
the chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's office for 
the southern district of California. He pointed out a very real 
problem. When people are apprehended at the border and ``repatriated,'' 
arrested and returned to Mexico--they are simply taken just over the 
line and let go. They are not repatriated into the heart of the 
country. Consequently, they come back sometimes an hour later or try 
again a day, a week, or a month later. My latest trip has convinced me 
that this problem also must be addressed.
  The fundamental point that I want to make this afternoon is, however, 
that we can enforce our borders. I now know from what I have seen with 
my own eyes that strong border enforcement works. Nobody should say 
that it is an impossible task. We just cannot say that.
  I have legislation pending that would expand the Border Patrol by an 
additional 1,400 agents over the next 2 years. I am hopeful that it 
will be discussed in the middle of this month by the Senate Judiciary 
Committee. If that legislation is enacted, Mr. President, I believe 
that it will help substantially to fully enforce our borders--north, 
south, east and west. We can do that by adding additional Border Patrol 
agents where they are needed, fences where fences will work, lighting 
where lighting is important, infrared scopes where infrared scopes are 
necessary.
  The United States of America, if we have the will to do so, can 
enforce its borders against illegal immigration. I believe that we 
must.
  I thank you, Mr. President, and yield the floor.

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