The House Homeland Security Committee has passed legislation to
address border protection problems across the Department of
Homeland Security.
Introduced by committee chairman Peter T. King, R-N.Y.,
HR-4312, the Border Security and Terrorism Prevention Act
of 2005, would increase funding for Border Patrol agents,
physical barriers and advanced technologies, and promote
policies to deter illegal immigration, according to a
committee statement.
The bill would require DHS and DoD to develop a joint
strategic plan to provide Border Patrol agents with
military support and increase use of DoD surveillance,
as well as authorize 1,000 new, full-time port of entry
inspectors over the next four years and the training of
1,500 additional K-9 units over the next five years. The
addition of 8,000 new border agents would be re-authorized
under the bill.
Other provisions include the establishment of 32,000 new
detention beds over the next four years, and doing away
with the “catch and release” policy for illegal immigrants
by requiring the mandatory detention of all aliens
apprehended at U.S. land borders attempting to cross
illegally, by Oct. 1, 2006.
The bill would also require the DHS secretary to resolve
the increasingly incompatible working relationship between
the Bureaus of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and
Customs and Border Protection.
In addition, air and marine operations would be moved
directly under the authority of the DHS secretary.
“There’s a real crisis of confidence in the country,” said
King, about government’s ability to control border traffic.
The bill is expected to go before the full House for votes
in early to mid-December.
