Jun 21 2013

Graham Supports Border Surge

If you believe in strong border security, this amendment practically militarizes the border.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) yesterday came out in support of the Corker-Hoeven border security amendment to the Senate immigration bill. A vote on the amendment is scheduled for Monday evening.

"When people in South Carolina say ‘Secure the Border,' I get it," said Graham. "The Corker-Hoeven amendment is a border surge and designed to help us regain over sovereignty. It is a robust border security measure which calls for the hiring, training and deployment of an additional 20,000 Border Patrol agents on the southern border."

Graham noted there are five major provisions of the Corker-Hoeven amendment and they must all be met before illegal immigrants can gain lawful permanent residents status in the United States. The provisions include:

  • Hiring, training, and deployment of an additional 20,000 Border Patrol agents on the Southern border. By comparison, in Fiscal Year 2012 we had 18,500 agents patrolling the Southern border.
  • Build an additional 350 miles of actual fencing, not vehicle barriers.
  • Implementation of mandatory E-Verify to check the legal status of new hires.
  • Deployment and implementation of an electronic Entry-Exit system at all international air and sea ports of entry within the United States.
  • The Department of Homeland Security, after consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, the Inspector General of the Department, and the Comptroller General of the United States (GAO), has submitted a Comprehensive Southern Border Security Strategy to Congress that includes minimum requirements for each sector along the border as identified by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the plan has been deployed and is operational.

 "If you believe in strong border security, this amendment practically militarizes the border," concluded Graham.

#####