Rep. Calvert Votes for Enhanced Border Security and Additional Immigration Enforcement Officers

July 18, 2017

Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a majority of the Appropriations Committee to advance the Fiscal Year 2018 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill.

"The first step in fixing our broken immigration system has to be securing our borders and restoring the rule of law," said Rep. Calvert. "The DHS funding bill will increase the security of our borders by expanding and improving on the physical barriers we currently have in place along the southern border. The bill also provides the resources necessary to hire additional Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to better enforce our visa and other immigration laws. I strongly support the boost in funding to increase the capacity of the E-Verify system in preparation for a potential transition to mandatory use in the future. I authored the creation of E-Verify to ensure American jobs went to people who are legally in our country and I continue to believe its use should be mandatory."

Highlights of the Fiscal Year 2018 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill:

(Provided by the House Appropriations Committee)

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – The bill contains $13.8 billion in discretionary appropriations for CBP – an increase of $1.6 billion above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level.

These resources ensure our borders are protected by putting boots on the ground, improving infrastructure and technology, and helping to stem the flow of illegal goods both into and out of the country. Within this total, the legislation includes:

$1.6 billion for physical barrier construction along the Southern border – including bollards and levee improvements – meeting the full White House request;
$100 million to hire 500 new Border Patrol agents;
$131 million for new border technology;
$106 million for new aircraft and sensors; and
$109 million for new, non-intrusive inspection equipment.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – The bill provides $7 billion for ICE –$619.7 million above the fiscal year 2017 enacted level. Within this total, the legislation includes:

$185.6 million to hire 1,000 additional law enforcement officers and 606 support staff;
$2 billion – an increase of $30 million above the requested level – for domestic and international investigations programs, including efforts to combat human trafficking, child exploitation, cybercrime, visa screening, and drug smuggling;

$4.4 billion for detention and removal programs, including:
- 44,000 detention beds, an increase 4,676 beds over fiscal year 2017;
- 129 Fugitive Operations teams; and
- Criminal Alien Program operations, including the addition of 26 new communities to the 287(g) program, which partners with local law enforcement to process, arrest, and book illegal immigrants into state or local detention facilities.

Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) – The legislation does not fund most CIS activities, as these are funded outside the appropriations process through the collection of fees However, the bill does contain $131 million for E-Verify, which is funded within CIS and helps companies ensure their employees may legally work in the United States.

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