Column: Firsthand look at border helps my work on illegal immigration
By Niki Tsongas  | November 25, 2007

I have heard from people throughout the Merrimack Valley about the many legitimate concerns they have with our system of immigration including improving border security and cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers.  And, I share those concerns; the system of immigration is broken and I want to be part of the solution to fix it.

Over the past three days, I stood at the border of the United States and Mexico to get a first hand look at our border patrol operations.  The US-Mexico border is 1969 miles long - that’s the distance from Lawrence to Denver.  In the short time I was there, I watched as border patrol agents apprehended a murderer, domestic abuser and smugglers.  The men and women patrolling our border are doing everything they can, but I came away with a clear sense that we need to do more.

I believe it was important for me to see first-hand what is going on along our Southern border – not by reading about in the newspaper, watching pictures of it on television or listening to what politicians are saying in Washington.  I wanted to hear directly from our border patrol agents and members of the National Guard about the real problems they have on the frontlines.  Many ideas have been proposed and I want to make sure that I am supporting bills that will truly help address the challenges they told me they are facing. 

Reforming our system of immigration is a serious and complicated issue that threatens our national security, challenges our economy and endangers our public safety and public trust.  There is no easy answer, but we cannot ignore the source of the problem at our borders.  These problems are interconnected and illegal entry into our nation along our Southern border and elsewhere affects us here at home in the Merrimack Valley.

The knowledge that I gained during this fact-finding trip will serve as a guide as I decide what legislation I think we need to advance to solve this problem.  I heard a common theme from border patrol agents, keeping the border secure comes down to three things: people, infrastructure, and technology. 

Throughout my visit, I was repeatedly impressed with the brave men and women who are going above and beyond to do their jobs.  They are skilled, innovative and incredibly professional individuals.  I met with agents who patrol by truck, horse, bike, foot, all-terrain vehicle, camera, and with highly-trained dogs.  They are doing everything we have asked them to do in an environment that is very challenging and at times quite dangerous, without all of the resources they need to do their jobs.  We need to change that. 

I was pleased to hear that the border patrol felt that recent actions by Congress to add 3,000 border patrol agents and members of the National Guard to the border has made a measurable difference in their ability to control entry into our country.  I believe we must continue to ensure that the border patrol has the number of agents it needs at the urban points of entry as well as patrolling the rural stretches of border to make sure that our borders are secure.

I also think we need to invest in the small businesses, many of which are located in the Fifth Congressional District, who are developing innovative products to help the border patrol better do their job.  Not more than two weeks ago I met with American Science and Engineering Inc. (AS&E), a small company based in Billerica, who makes X-Ray vans and scanners and whose equipment is in use on the Southern border, in San Isidro, Texas.  In Arizona, I saw how the in-ground sensors deployed across high-traffic portions of our border and infrared and video surveillance technology is a tremendous advantage and value to the border patrol.  There is great opportunity for innovative companies located here in the Merrimack Valley to develop the technology that will help the border patrol keep our border safe and secure and I look forward to finding ways to support their work in Congress.
 
There is no denying that the United States is a magnet to people in many other countries for the opportunities that are available here.  But we are a nation of laws, and we must ensure that we are controlling the way people are able to come in and out of our country.  This first-hand knowledge I gained from this trip better prepares me to make sure we are enacting laws that do just that.