[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SHIFT IN INS'S BORDER FOCUS

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                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 1998

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, the U.S./Mexico border in San Diego County, 
California is the nation's busiest corridor for illegal immigration 
activity. However, yesterday, Immigration and Naturalization Service 
Commissioner Doris Meissner declared that this entry is under control. 
While the INS decided to deploy 1,000 new border patrol agents, not one 
of them is headed to San Diego.
  The 48th District of California lies just north of this high-traffic 
passage, and, Mr. Speaker, neither my constituents nor I would tell you 
that illegal immigration in this area is under control. Mrs. Meissner 
cites a 40% drop in border apprehensions in San Diego as proof that no 
additional agents are needed at this border. It is important to note 
that this figure does not take into account remote areas that are 
currently experiencing added strain as a result of the greater presence 
of agents and the San Diego entry point.
  While increasing the number of border patrol agents at the San Diego 
County borders might decrease movement at these sites, it only 
intensifies the influx at the neighboring border in Imperial County. 
The Border Patrol Chief at the Imperial County gateway noted that daily 
apprehensions have risen dramatically since 1996, from 150 to the 
current rate of over 900. Neglecting this corridor, while adding agents 
in Texas and New Mexico and maintaining the number of agents in San 
Diego, will only intensify this already acute problem.
  Southern California suffers from the increasing flood of illegal 
aliens. Mrs. Meissner's denial to provide us with an adequate number of 
border patrol agents to handle this dilemma is detrimental to our state 
and to our nation.
  Mr. Speaker, as we continue the battle against individuals who opt to 
enter the United States illegally, I commend our border patrol agents 
for their hard work and dedication. No matter how hard they work, 
though, we need more of these committed men and women at our high-
traffic borders if we are to have any hope of curtailing illegal 
immigration. I support efforts to strengthen our border in states like 
Texas; however, we must not pursue that goal at California's expense. 
The INS should take a closer look at the continuing penetration of our 
borders in Southern California and reconsider its strategy.

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