While increasing security at U.S. border crossings is still a hot
topic, the new federal budget asks for no major increases in border
spending. This lack of border security requests comes in the wake of a
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent’s death in Mexico, which
supports the widespread belief that Mexico’s drug war is getting worse.
The Obama administration is asking for $10.4 billion for Customs and
Border Protection in FY 2012. In FY 2010, they requested $10.1 billion.
This funding will support just over 21,000 border patrol agents and
will enable DHS to hire an additional 300 officers at U.S. ports of
entry. Reductions in funding requests were made for the SBInet program
and the State Criminal Alien Assistance program.
