Washington, D.C. - Local Immigration and Naturalization Services thanked Rep. Rick Larsen today for his successful efforts in making additional permanent INS Inspectors at the northern border a reality.  Washington state, parts of Idaho, and Canada are set to receive 111 Immigration Inspectors and 15 support positions.  Of those, nearly half will be assigned to Larsen’s congressional district.

“We are about to see a real difference at the border,” said Larsen.  “Traffic lines will decrease, trade will increase and our security will not be compromised.”

The 111 new inspectors and 15 support positions are part of INS’s approved distribution plan.  Of the 111 new inspectors assigned to Washington state, parts of Idaho and Canada, Larsen’s congressional district will receive 55 new inspectors and 9 support staff.  Specifically, INS will distribute the new inspectors at the following ports of entry:

Peace Arch border crossing  20 officers,   5 support
Pacific Highway border crossing 15 officers,   3 support
Sumas border crossing   7 officers,     1 support
Lynden border crossing   9 officers
Point Roberts border crossing  3 officers
Friday Harbor point of entry  1 officer

In an email to Larsen’s office, an INS employee wrote today, “Please accept my thanks and the thanks of all the officers in this district for all the help you have given us.  It would not have happened had not you and the others involved in this done so much.” 

Larsen said, “This is a substantial investment in our nation’s homeland and economic security,” Larsen said.  “Before September 11th, there were only 52 regular permanent INS inspectors at the five border crossings in my district.  The new inspectors that are coming will more than double staffing levels along Western Washington’s northern border.”

The new staffing levels are, in part, a response to a formal request Larsen made last December for 70 new INS staff for the ports of entry in his district.  Larsen is an active member of the bipartisan Northern Border Caucus.