Homeland Security Would Get Boost Under Obama Budget

(GovExec.com)

President Obama’s fiscal 2010 budget request for the Homeland Security Department will boost funding for technology and border agents along the southwest border, as well as to find and deport criminal illegal immigrants inside the country.

It represents a shift away from some of the most controversial efforts under the Bush administration, such as building fencing and barriers along the border and going after undocumented workers who pose no criminal or national security threat.

Nearly $200 million would be allocated for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct enforcement actions against criminal illegal immigrants -- a 30 percent increase over current levels.

About $70 million would be provided to hire about 350 new special agents and criminal investigators to establish a new border violence intelligence group and improve coordination efforts with the Mexican government.

“There are a couple of things we are going to have a prayer meeting about, but I think basically it’s a good budget,” said House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Price, D-N.C. “We are going to examine it in detail and talk about it with all of our colleagues.” Read more here.