President Bush's proposals to better secure the borders include increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, ending the practice of "catch and release" along the southern border, eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to returning illegal immigrants to their home countries, and sending National Guard members to the border for temporary assignment to assist the Border Patrol during the transition as new Border Patrol agents are added and new technology comes online.
The White House said the plan to increase border security will take time to fully implement, so the president announced several immediate steps to strengthen border enforcement during this transition:
In coordination with governors, up to 6,000 National Guard members will be sent to the southern border. The Department of Homeland Security, and specifically the Border Patrol, will remain in the lead. The Guard, which will be deployed in shifts, will assist the Border Patrol by operating surveillance systems, analyzing intelligence, installing fences and vehicle barriers, building patrol roads, and providing training. Guard units will not be involved in direct law enforcement activities -- that duty will be done by the Border Patrol.
The initial commitment of Guard members would last for one year. After that, the number of Guard forces will be reduced as new Border Patrol agents are added and new technologies come online. These 6,000 troops account for less than 2 percent of the total National Guard force of more than 440,000. We have enough National Guard members to secure our border while continuing to respond to natural disasters and to win the War on Terror.
The U.S does not plan to militarize the southern border. Mexico is a neighbor and friend, Mr. Bush said. The U.S. will continue to work cooperatively to improve security on both sides of the border, confront common problems like drug trafficking and crime, and reduce illegal immigration.
U.S. will increase federal funding for state and local authorities assisting the border patrol on targeted enforcement missions, and will give them the specialized training they need to help the border patrol and other federal officers apprehend and detain illegal immigrants. U.S. will work to ensure that every illegal immigrant caught crossing the southern border is returned home by ending the practice of "catch and release." For many years, the government did not have enough space in our detention facilities to hold illegal immigrants while the legal process unfolded. Most were released back into society and asked to return for a court date, but did not show up when the date arrived.
To end "catch and release," U.S. will continue expanding the number of beds in detention facilities and continue expediting the removal process to cut the average deportation time. U.S. making it clear to foreign governments that they must accept their citizens who violate our immigration laws. As a result of these actions, we have ended catch and release for illegal immigrants from some countries. The President will ask Congress for additional funding and legal authority to permanently end catch and release at the southern border once and for all.
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