Issa Votes to Increase Border Security Funding, Calls for Greater Sense of Urgency in Addressing Border Threats

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Vista) today voted in support of passing an emergency package that will strengthen U.S. border security.  H.R. 6080 provides a crucial $600 million boost to our efforts to secure the border and confront the growing threats posed by gang violence, drug cartels and human smuggling.

“Today was a much-needed boost in what must be an ongoing effort to secure our borders and ensure that the men and woman who serve on the frontlines of our southern borders have the resources they need,” said Issa.  “For all the attention generated by the debate over Arizona’s immigration law, what often gets lost in that discussion is the urgent need for Washington to show a much greater commitment and sense of urgency in tackling this crisis and maintaining sustained increases in border security funding, accelerated completion of the border fence and workplace enforcement of immigration laws that already exist.”

H.R. 6080 allocates $176 million for a 1,000 person “strike force” to target violent border hotspots, $89 million to hire border security support personnel, $196 million for law enforcement officers and prosecutors and $32 million for armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).  The bill is paid for by raising from $320 to $2,000 the fees H-1B – skilled workers – and L –intracompany transferees – visa applicants must pay.

Last month, Rep. Issa also voted for H.R. 5875, the Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, to boost border security funding by $701 million.  Issa has been a strong supporter of increased border security funding, completing the border fence, boosting the number of border patrol agents and harnessing new technologies like UAVs to keep America secure.

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