Opportunity at the Borders

Jun 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Paul Rothman

Bush's SBI Plan at a Glance

Here is a list of the border security issues involving immigration and immigrants.

• Allows illegal immigrants in the country five years to remain, continue working and become legal residents after paying fines, back taxes and learning English.

• Requires illegal immigrants in the U.S. between two and five years to go to a point of entry at the border and file an application to return.

• Requires those in the country less than two years to leave.

• Creates a guest worker program for an estimated 1.5 million farm workers.

• Provides up to 325,000 temporary visas a year for future workers.

• Adds up to 14,000 Border Patrol agents by 2011 to the current force of 11,300 agents, for a potential total of 25,300.

• Authorizes additional detention facilities for apprehended illegal immigrants.

• Requires employers and subcontractors to use an electronic system to verify new hires are legal within 18 months.

• Increases penalties up to $20,000 per illegal worker and jail time for repeat offenders.

700 The number of National Guard troops deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border by President Bush in early June — boosting the overall number of agents to more than 1,000.

2,500 The number of National Guard troops projected to be stationed on the U.S.-Mexico border by July.

6,000 The number of National Guard troops President Bush has pledged to send to the southern border to assist the Border Patrol until new agents are trained and deployed.

2 The number of unmanned aerial vehicles planned to patrol the southern borders.

$14 Million The cost of the Predator-B spy drone aircraft that crashed for unknown reasons in late April on the border near Tuscon, Ariz.

$2 Billion The projected spending on information technology for the Secure Border Initiative, according to INPUT, Reston, Va.

6 Million The number of people apprehended by the Border Patrol while trying to enter the United States during the last five years, according to a speech by President Bush.

$5 Million The cost of Texas governor Rick Perry's plan to deploy hundreds of night-vision cameras on private land along the Mexican border.

2,800 The total number of beds in detention facilities along the southern border. Bush would increase the number of beds by 4,000 in his proposal.

Story Quick Links

• Bush's SBI Plan at a Glance
• Border Security by the Numbers
• Contractors in the Running
• Citizens on Patrol the Texas technology plan
• Barriers On the Fence
• Protecting our Borders A Resource Guide

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