TOPICS
TOPICS
Senators demand tighter security along northern border
Senators demanded to know Thursday how much more personnel and technology the Homeland Security Department needs to secure the nation's border with Canada, after government investigators were able to sneak into the United States undetected on multiple occasions while simulating the smuggling of radioactive materials.
At a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, panel members expressed outrage over the findings of a Government Accountability Office probe, in which investigators traveled across sections of the northern border undetected while carrying a duffel bag to simulate the smuggling of radioactive materials or other contraband.
"We need to get border security right, lives depend on it," said Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, whose home state of Montana borders Canada. "GAO's testimony today is, in a word, alarming."
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, called GAO's findings "deeply disturbing news." Greg Kutz, a GAO managing director, asked: "Is there sufficient human capital and technology for [Homeland Security officials] to achieve their mission at this point? I think that's a serious question for the U.S. Congress and the Senate to address."
Border Patrol Deputy Chief Ronald Colburn told the committee the department uses a mix of technology, personnel and infrastructure to monitor the borders.
"You don't always see us when we always see you," he said.
In response to questions, Colburn disclosed that at any given time only 250 Border Patrol officers are on duty along the northern border, which stretches about 4,000 miles. "We agree that the border is not as secure as it should be," he conceded.
Baucus shot back: "It sounds like we need more people."
Senators repeatedly asked Colburn how many more officers are needed along the northern border.
"That's the multibillion dollar question," Colburn replied.
Senators said they did not feel Colburn was being candid with them. After about an hour of testimony, Baucus scolded Colburn, saying he was being vague and evasive in answering questions from the panel.
"Here we are in the Congress trying to get specific answers ... and you're trying to protect yourself," Baucus said. "I don't get the sense you really care about this."
Colburn defended himself. "I take this very seriously," he said. "I think I've been very candid with all of you." He said more progress is being made in securing the northern and southern borders than ever, especially with the help of technology and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Colburn said the majority of resources are placed along the southern border because 99 percent of all illegal activity takes place in that region.
Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said the Border Patrol might not be aware of how much illegal activity is taking place along the northern border because it is not monitored as much. Salazar said there is "a huge chasm" in terms of resources going to the southern border, compared to the northern border.
COMMENTS
- I spent many wonderful years in Rochester and Buffalo New York going back and forth across the longest peaceful border in the world. I went over to buy cases of the best beer in the world. For 200 years we didn't have fences, motion detectors, guard dogs and barbed wire. Closing them out and us in makes for pretty poor relationships. I know the argument- security, security, security. But how much is enough and how does this constant ratching effect our relationship with our cousins to the North. I was in Ontario last year reading their newspapers and they think we are just insane to require them to bring their passports when they come over to buy a container of milk at the CVS across the border. Buffalo, Niagara, Detroit/Windsor and countless border towns shared-- What a shame we are being such poor neighbors. But perhaps it is inevitable. Too bad John Candy isn't alive so he and his friends can invade their side of Niagara Falls. HR Specialist Posted September 28, 2007 1:41 PM
- If the government would build an impenetrable barrier on the Mexican Border, one with about 50 official entry points, it could transfer about 7,500 Border patrol agents to the Canadian Border and the ports. The US has highly advanced barrier and sensor technologies such that nothing and no one could get past a modern barrier. I suspect that the US will be attacked by a Muslim bomb in a Mexican truck thanks to Mexican smugglers. Don Jones Posted September 28, 2007 10:11 AM
- Fortress America. Walls and fences on both borders? Armed guards everywhere? Are we protected or imprisoned? What about walls and fences and guards on each coast? At each port? At each small cove along the coast? Is this what we want? It is not possible to cover all the "ports of entry" for potential terrorists. What about those that may be here already? What really makes for security is individual/personal vigilance. All of us should have a "healthy" suspicion of activities occurring around us that seem out of the ordinary and/or harmful. But isn’t that how we should be acting anyway, especially regarding any criminal or potentially harmful activity? After all, for some of us, gangs and “random” or not shootings are a real terror-ist threat. We seem to want others/government to take care of us without taking care ourselves or of looking out for each other. Much of the time we are not alert and are so self-absorbed that we miss the danger signals. As to our northern neighbors with whom we have been friends for a long time (though I suspect that from their viewpoint we are a bit overbearing friends), do we want more physical separation? Are we now to throw-up "road blocks" to our relationship. Separation rather than cooperation and communication leads to suspicion and problems. If we spent more time getting to know each other, we would soon “discover” those that are meaning us harm. Still it's very hard to detect people planning harm who do not want to be found. So, I for one try not to spend each day in dread, but rather chose to live each as fully as possible with those I love and care about, and at the same time try to pay attention to what’s going on around me. However, when all is said and done, I believe that when your time is up, it's up, and the manner of your passing unless planned is a matter of fate or the actions of a higher power. So, be watchful not petrified. There are no guarantees in life except death and taxes, and some are able to avoid taxes. Bob Hiller Posted September 28, 2007 10:01 AM
