The Department of Homeland Security Secretary has
announced a long-term plan to step up border security
and reduce illegal migration.
The Secure Border Initiative is designed to give DHS
operational control of the northern and southern
borders within five years, according to DHS.
It said the initiative would include an increase in
agents to patrol borders, secure ports and enforce
immigration laws, increased detention and removal
capabilities, technology upgrades, greater physical
barriers along the southern border, and greater
interior enforcement.
“We will address all aspects of the border security
problem across the board — deterrence, detection,
response, apprehension, detention, and removal,”
said DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff.
“We will address the challenges in each of these
areas with an integrated mix of increased staffing,
new technology, and enhanced infrastructure investment,
as well as a new regime of regulations and legislative
proposals,” he added.
According to DHS, it has more than 11,000 Border Patrol
agents along nearly 7,000 miles of northern and southern
border, an increase of 15 percent over late 2001. It
also said it has 18,000 officers at ports of entry and
8,000 working to apprehend individuals within the U.S.
