Sean Reyes: “as we debate the issue of border security here, as we talk about an issue that is so vitally important to the American…”

“as we debate the issue of border security here, as we talk about an issue that is so vitally important to the American people, I am disappointed that we can't seem to work together on this particular issue. I have been in Congress for 10 years. I have been advocating that we hire 1,000 to 1,500 Border Patrol agents a year along with the resources necessary to support them. Yet we get this proposal for a fence. This is the best we can do? This is the best you can do to assure the American people that we are going to focus on border security? It falls woefully short, and I say that with all due respect because I spent 26\1/2\ years on America's border. When I retired, I had been the chief for a little over 12 years in charge of McAllen sector and El Paso sector. I am the one who instituted Operation Hold the Line that shifted border enforcement away from apprehension and towards deterrence. I have, I think, the kind of experience that we ought to be able to count on on both sides of the aisle. I have tried to work with many Members on the other side of the aisle and have always, as I put forth my ideas on the issue of border security for the last 10 years, have always been told, well, it is not the right time. It's too expensive, it is not the right strategy to pursue at this time. I really felt after 9/11 we would have a new focus on border security. Today, 5 years later, the American people are focused like a laser on the fact that our borders are vulnerable.…”