 |
|
|
 News from Around the Americas | December 2005 
U.S.-Mexican Border to get 1,700 Additional Border Patrol Agents
 Arthur H. Rotstein - Associated Press
Tucson, Ariz. - The U.S. Border Patrol will add 1,700 new agents along the Mexican border this fiscal year, with Arizona getting more than 640 of them, the agency said. California will receive 352 new agents, Texas 452 and New Mexico 253.
"The personnel are absolutely key to our continued progress in gaining control of the border," said Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar. "In addition to this, of course, we will continue to build the infrastructure and continue to add technology."
Aguilar said Tuesday the number of agents in the Tucson sector will increase to 2,779 from 2,339 by the end of the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. The Yuma sector's total agents will rise to 757, up from 554.
For several years, the Tucson sector-one of the two in Arizona-has been the nation's busiest in the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border.
Aguilar said the 1,700 new agents will boost the agency's total from 11,268 as of two months ago to almost 13,000, some of whom will still be in training.
In addition, the Tucson sector will receive $35 million for added infrastructure, including vehicle barriers in the Ajo and Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation areas; improving roadways there and around Naco and Douglas; added stadium-type lighting on either side of Naco and Douglas, and additional heavy steel fencing in the Douglas and Naco areas.
Another $35 million has been allocated for work on completing another five miles of a 14-mile San Diego border fence-the bulk of the remaining project, though more still will be needed, Aguilar said.
The money for the new hirings comes from allocations in the fiscal 2006 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security and from the fiscal 2005 Iraq war supplemental appropriations bill, Aguilar said in a teleconference and Sen. Jon Kyl's office announced in a news release.
Aguilar declined to say how many more agents he believes will be needed to secure control of the border, a goal that has eluded federal authorities despite a continual buildup that has nearly quadrupled the Border Patrol's agents over the last decade. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us