*Administration of Barack H. Obama, 2010 *

**Statement on Congressional Passage of Southwest Border Security Legislation **

*August 12, 2010 *

I have made securing our Southwest border a top priority since I came to office. That is why my administration has dedicated unprecedented resources and personnel to combating the transnational criminal organizations that traffic in drugs, weapons, and money and smuggle people across the border with Mexico. Today's action by Congress answers my call to bolster the essential work of Federal law enforcement officials and improve their ability to partner with State, local, and tribal law enforcement. The resources made available through this legislation will build upon our successful efforts to protect communities along the Southwest border and across the country. And this new law will also strengthen our partnership with Mexico in targeting the gangs and criminal organizations that operate on both sides of our shared border. So these steps will make an important difference as my administration continues to work with Congress toward bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform to secure our borders and restore responsibility and accountability to our broken immigration system.

*Categories:* Statements by the President : Southwest border security legislation, congressional passage.

*Subjects:* Defense and national security : Border security; Immigration and naturalization : Reform; Mexico : Border with U.S., infrastructure and security; Mexico : Crime and narcotrafficking.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201000672.