Key Republican Border Security Accomplishments

October 23, 2006

• Secure Fence Act
  • Transmitted to the president and ready to be signed into law
  • Legislation authorizes construction of 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the southwest border.

• FY 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report
  • Signed into law
• Legislation funds critical measures designed to strengthen America’s border security, providing $21.3 billion for border protection and immigration enforcement. It also provides:
  • $2.77 billion for border patrol, adding 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, for a total of 14,800;
  • $1.2 billion for border fencing, vehicle barriers, technology and infrastructure; and
  • $4.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

• Border Tunnel Prevention Act
  • Signed into law
• Legislation makes it a crime to knowingly construct, finance, or allow the construction of an unauthorized tunnel across a U.S. international border. Individuals caught using such a tunnel to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists face penalties of more than 20 years in jail.