Enhanced 10-Point Plan to Better Secure the U.S.-Mexico Border
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) today introduced the Border Security Enforcement Act of 2011, an enhanced, fully paid for, 10-point comprehensive border security legislation to combat illegal immigration, drug and alien smuggling, and violent activity along the border between Mexico and Arizona, Texas, California and New Mexico.
“Ten years ago, we could not have anticipated the headlines that routinely appear in newspapers today, throughout the country, detailing the dangers along our southern border. While our border with Mexico has always seen some level of illegal immigration, it has not seen the powerful threat of deadly violence that exists today as a result of Mexico’s ongoing war against its drug cartels,” said Senator John McCain. “I recently returned from a visit to our southern border and we are seeing progress along our land borders, but progress is not success. We must remain vigilant and continue to make every effort to secure our border.”
“While Senator McCain and I have successfully fought to increase funding for border security efforts, most in Washington have yet to appreciate that a whole lot more still needs to be done. The Obama Administration claims that the border is ‘more secure than ever,’” said Senator Jon Kyl. “With hundreds of thousands of people illegally crossing the border every year and record drug smuggling and violence, shouldn’t the government be working to completely secure the border? Our plan is a straightforward approach that will actually achieve a secure border.”
Senators McCain and Kyl’s Enhanced Ten Point Border Security Action Plan:
1) Deploy no fewer than 6,000 National Guard troops to the United States-Mexico border.
2) Deploy 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents to the United States-Mexico border by 2016 and Offer Hardship Duty Pay to Border Patrol agents assigned to rural, high-trafficked areas. Provide funding for 500 additional Customs inspectors for the southwest border.
3) Provide increased funding for Operation Streamline.
4) Provide increased funding for the Southwest Border Prosecutors Initiative.
5) Provide increased funding for Operation Stonegarden.
6) Construct double-layer fencing at needed locations along the United States-Mexico border and replace outdated and ineffective landing-mat fencing along the southwest border.
7) Increase the number of mobile and other surveillance systems and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) along the United States-Mexico border. Send additional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to the United States-Mexico border.
8) Provide funding for vital radio communications and interoperability between Customs and Border Patrol and state, local, and tribal law enforcement.
9) Provide funding for additional Border Patrol stations along the southwest border and explore the possibility of creating an additional Border Patrol sector in Arizona. Create six additional permanent Border Patrol Forward Operating Bases and upgrade existing bases.
10) Complete construction of the planned permanent checkpoint in Arizona. Deploy additional temporary roving checkpoints and increase horse patrols throughout the Tucson Sector.
More information on the Border Security Enforcement Act of 2011 is also available online.
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