3,000 New Border Patrol Agents Sought
Citing repeated congressional failures to address the country’s illegal immigration problem, a bipartisan group of 37 California House members has called for 3,000 additional federal agents to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), who circulated the letter among the state delegation, said almost half of all illegal immigrants apprehended by the Immigration and Naturalization Service enter through San Diego County.
“Although we have less than 100 agents covering the entire California-Mexico border at any one time, the number of agents is actually being reduced. Without adequate funding, personnel and equipment, the taxpayers will continue to pay a far higher price to service illegal immigrants once they are in the United States,” Hunter said in a statement.
The 3,000 new Border Patrol agents would cost $165 million over five years, and Hunter is also asking for a $40-million increase in operational funds.
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