Max Baucus: “I feel very strongly that we must increase our border security. The resources of our National Guard, law enforcement…”

“I feel very strongly that we must increase our border security. The resources of our National Guard, law enforcement, and Customs and Border Patrol agents are stretched way too thin and they need our help, especially along the northern border. Their ability to successfully carry out their daily duties is of critical importance to the safety of all Americans. We must protect our borders better and work to increase the apprehension of illegal aliens crossing into the United States. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act we passed in 2004 authorized the hiring of 2,000 new Border Patrol agents. Yet the President's budget only proposed 210 new agents--about 10 percent of what is authorized. The Border Patrol has been dangerously underfunded. That is why I cosponsored Senator Byrd's Border Patrol amendment, which passed yesterday, and why I supported Senator Ensign's amendment today. I recognize we are fighting the war on terrorism overseas, but we need more agents, investigators, detention, and deportation officers at home. Additional funding will ensure that more illegal aliens will be detained and our borders will be tightened against all threats, especially terrorism. The best way to prevent terrorism in the United States is to prevent terrorists from entering the United States. In my State of Montana, we deal with the vast northern border and the terrain is not easy to patrol.…”