Border Security Subcommittee Hearing Focused on the Immigration Enforcement Resources Auth

Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Hearing Focused on the Immigration Enforcement Resources Authorized in Last Year's 9/11 CommissionLegislation

3/2/2005 12:32:00 PM

To: Assignment Desk and Daybook Editor

Contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn, 202-225-2492, both of the Committee on the Judiciary

News Advisory:

What: Oversight hearing entitled, "The Immigration Enforcement Resources Authorized in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004"

Who: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, & Claims - Rep. John Hostettler (R-Ind.), Chairman

When: 11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 3, 2005

Where: 2141 Rayburn Building

The 9/11 Commission report stated, "It is elemental to border security to know who is coming into the country. Today more than 9 million people are in the United States outside the legal immigration system." The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act enacted in December authorizes funding for 2,000 additional Border Patrol agents for each of the next five years.

Background

-- The Border Patrol oversees over 8000 miles of American international borders with its 10,752 employees. Last year's 9/11 Commission report estimated that 500,000 illegal entrants come to the U.S. each year.

-- Last month, the Deputy Homeland Security Secretary testified that, "Several Al Qaeda leaders believe operatives can pay their way into the country through Mexico and also believe illegal entry is more advantageous than legal entry for operational security reasons."

-- Border Patrol data indicates that from October 2003 to June 2004, 44,614 non-Mexican aliens were apprehended trying to cross the northern or southern borders, including significant numbers from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism.

This Hearing Will Explore

-- What is the state of border security today, particularly at the land borders?

-- What are the inherent problems with having a porous border (terrorist entry, drug running, criminal alien entries, and basic lawlessness)?

-- What is the latest intelligence regarding the use of weak border security as a means for terrorists to enter the country?

-- How many Border Patrol agents are needed to secure the border against smugglers and terrorists?

WITNESSES: T.J. Bonner, President, National Border Patrol Council; Peter Gadiel, President, 9/11 Families for a Secure America; Hon. Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas); and Robert Eggle, father of Kris, a National Park Service employee killed while pursuing a drug cartel hit squad.

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