Border security money woesHouse Republicans slash funds for border security, immigration enforcement

Published 24 February 2011

House Republicans voted to slash spending for border security and immigration enforcement for the remainder of this fiscal year by an estimated $600 million; the House budget allocates $350 million less for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology than Congress approved last year, and $124 million below what DHS requested; the bill also cuts an estimated $159 million over last year for Customs and Border Protection modernization and construction programs, and is $40 million less than the agency sought to get the job done

The U.S. House of Representatives voted mostly along party lines to slash spending by an estimated $600 million for border security and immigration enforcement for the remainder of this fiscal year, according to ABC News. The budget allocates $350 million less for border security fencing, infrastructure, and technology than Congress approved last year, and $124 million below what DHS requested.

Democrats argue the House bill would shrink the Border Patrol by 870 agents and cut $272 million in funds for surveillance systems to monitor the border with Mexico, according to the New York Times. They said those cuts would cancel gains from a bill adopted last August, with virtually unanimous bipartisan support, that increased border funding by $600 million, adding 1,000 new agents to the Border Patrol.

Security Director News reports that the bill also cuts an estimated $159 million over last year for Customs and Border Protection modernization and construction programs, and is $40 million less than the agency sought to get the job done.

Republican leaders said, however, that the House budget cuts did not undercut their border security goals. “Even with all the money in the world, the administration would not succeed in securing the border because they are not serious about it,” said Lamar Smith, the Republican from Texas who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

The two sides must agree to a spending bill by 4 March to avoid a government shutdown.