FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1995              CONTACT: JANE FRIDAY  (214) 767-7030
                                  

              RENO ANNOUNCES NEW AGENTS & RESOURCES 
        TO SECURE TEXAS BORDER & CUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION 

 Biggest Increase Ever in Deploying Agents & Equipment to Border 

     TEXAS--Attorney General Janet Reno announced today that Texas
will receive an unprecedented increase in border enforcement
personnel and equipment to stem illegal immigration and more fairly
and effectively handle legal immigration in the state.
  
     Border Patrol stations throughout the state will receive 300
new agents, bringing the total of new hires and redeployed agents
to 434 over the last two years --a 28% increase. 

     In the latest step in the Clinton Administration's Southwest
Border Strategy
the McAllen Sector will get 75 new agents, raising its staff to 30%
above the level of two years ago. The Del Rio Sector will get 100
new agents, a 39% increase over a two year period.  The Laredo
Sector will get 75 new agents, a 24% increase over a two year
period.  The El Paso Sector which received 104 new or redeployed
agents last year to support Operation Hold the Line will get 50 new
agents for its Texas-based stations this year, and 15 agents for
the Sector's New Mexico-based stations -- a 26% increase  for the
Texas stations alone over the last two years. Marfa will receive 10
new agents, a 7.5% gain.
   
     "We are committed to securing this nation's borders," Reno
said. "We have already made a huge difference in El Paso and are
working to cut illegal crossings all the way down the Texas border
."

     Reno said the additional resources are needed in Texas now to
detect and deter increased crossing attempts all along the state's
border as a result of the heightened security efforts in San Diego
and El Paso, the busiest illegal entry points.

     The Attorney General is meeting today and tomorrow with
immigration and law enforcement officials in El Paso, Laredo, Del
Rio and Brownsville to discuss strengthening Border Patrol
operations on the entire Southwestern border.

     Reno noted that alien apprehensions, a measure of crossing
activity, decreased significantly last year in El Paso by 72%,
signaling a decline in attempted crossings in those areas.

     "We're not going to sit back and see if illegal crossings go
up in Texas this year, we're going to move forward now to deter
them," Reno said.  

     In addition to infusing the border with new assets, Reno said
the Department of Justice will also increase resources to detect
illegal entries and facilitate legal entries at ports, as well as
expedite the removal of criminal aliens.

     The new resources directed to Texas and other states to
control illegal immigration were appropriated by Congress in the
FY95 budgets of the Department of Justice and the Immigration
Naturalization Service.  Many of these resources were authorized by
the President's 1994 Crime Bill.

     The resources that will be deployed in Texas this year
include:

    59 new inspectors.  These new inspectors, coupled with
     inspectors added last year (a 14% increase over two years
     ago), will reinforce the Ports of Entry throughout Texas. 
     They will facilitate legal immigration and international
     commerce, at the same time helping to identify fraudulent
     documentation and deterring illegal immigration. 

    Two high technology systems -- IDENT and IBIS.  These systems
     will be installed and upgraded to help INS officials in Texas
     quickly detain and prosecute criminal aliens.  The systems
     will use fingerprints and access other computerized data to
     identify repeat border crossers and criminals who are trying
     to enter the U.S.    

    Assistance to the State of Texas.  Already, the federal
     government has sent Texas $2,120,300, as a down-payment to
     help reimburse the State for the costs of incarcerating
     criminal aliens.  A total of $130 million dollars has been
     appropriated to Texas in the FY95 budget. 


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95-009