[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 15 (Monday, April 16, 2007)]
[Pages 430-431]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks During a Tour of the Border and an Exchange With Reporters in 
Yuma, Arizona

April 9, 2007

    The President. You know, it's interesting; this is the spot I came 
to in May of 2006. Colburn told me then that we were in the process of 
developing a modernization strategy. None of this existed prior to my 
arrival in May. And they told me they were developing a strategy that 
would prevent people from charging across to try to get to the 
neighborhood over here. And that strategy has been implemented.
    It is a combination of roads, lighting, and fencing, all aiming at 
making sure that we have a border that's protected. And it's amazing the 
progress that's been made. And we have come back to this spot because 
it's where I was the last time. And I was most impressed by your 
strategy, even more impressed by the fact that it's now being 
implemented. And the men have reported that the number of arrests are 
down, which is an indication that fewer people are trying to cross the 
border at this part of--along the border. And so we're making some 
pretty good progress.
    And the reason we've come here is to show the American people that 
the plan that we've announced is now being implemented. And there is 
still more work to be done, but, nevertheless, a lot of progress is 
being made. I'm going to talk a little bit later about making sure that 
we complete the strategy by having a comprehensive immigration bill. I 
will save my words until then. But in the meantime, I wanted you to see 
the progress--see firsthand the progress that we're making here on the 
border.
    Anyway, thank you for your time.

U.S. Border Partol

    Q. What most impresses you, Mr. President?
    The President. The hard work being done.

[[Page 431]]

Note: The President spoke at 9:36 a.m. at the Yuma Sector, U.S. Border 
Patrol. In his remarks, he referred to Ronald S. Colburn, Chief Patrol 
Agent, Yuma Sector, U.S. Border Patrol. The Office of the Press 
Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks. 
A portion of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was 
incomplete.