House bill will add more customs agents to border

The $45 billion spending measure increases funding by about 2 percent over the current budget, including increased staffing for border enforcement agencies. While the 1,600 new CBP officers is below the 6,000 customs agents that border trade advocates believe is necessary to expedite trade at the nation’s ports, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said it was a big step toward the larger number.

“This will go a long way to address the need that we have for CBP officers at the ports of entry,” said Cuellar, D-Laredo. “Trade and tourism will move a lot faster, and it will be good for the economy having people come down to the Texas border (to work).”

The Homeland Security appropriations bill passed the Republican-controlled House with a 245-182 vote margin. Democrats, who control the Senate, are expected to unveil a bill with slightly more spending than the House’s version.

Trade advocates say lengthy delays at U.S.-Mexico border crossings cost the U.S. economy up to $8 billion annually.

The Texas Border Coalition — a group comprised of mayors, county judges and economic development officials who advocate on behalf of border communities — has said recent federal budgets don’t do enough to address personnel and infrastructure needs at official U.S-Mexico border crossings. The coalition says recent GAO reports indicate that another 6,000 customs agents are needed, along with $6 billion in infrastructure improvements.

Local groups have also promoted legislation introduced by Texas congressmen that gives CBP the authority to enter into public-private partnerships with local governments and private sector entities.

Cuellar tried unsuccessfully to attach that language to the spending bill, but he said he is still hopeful the amendment could be added by its Senate supporters. Cuellar, a member of the appropriations committee, said local governments can help address needs at the ports of entry with federal budget writers limited in the assistance they can provide. 

 “We’re getting there on the personnel if everything goes fine,” Cuellar said. “On the infrastructure, I’m hoping that we get the public-private partnerships in the Senate to get some local assistance at the bridges.”

Most Democrats, including all three members of the Valley’s delegation, withdrew their support after Republicans muscled through an amendment that would block President Barack Obama’s policy to end deportation of hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the country illegally who were brought to the United States as children. The amendment is unlikely to make its way into the final version of the legislation.

But U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, said the amendment was in opposition to most Americans’ views and in contrast to ongoing, bipartisan efforts to reform the nation’s immigration laws.

“The American people have consistently rejected the mass deportation of young people who were raised in this country and have urged Democrats and Republicans to come together to develop a sensible, comprehensive immigration reform proposal,” Hinojosa said in a statement.

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