Washington, D.C. – This week, Congressman Joe Donnelly joined 48 colleagues in sending a letter to congressional leadership urging the House of Representatives to provide increased funding for several initiatives to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. 

“In light of the recent spike in drug and gang-related violence along our border with Mexico, I believe it is crucial to give our Border Patrol the tools they need to keep U.S. citizens safe and our borders secure,” said Donnelly.  “Our first priority must be to protect the citizens of this great country, and that means prioritizing funding for the brave men and women on the front lines of this ongoing battle to secure our border.”

Congress is expected to debate legislation soon that would fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other high priority areas of national security.  In the letter, Donnelly and his colleagues call for the legislation to include increased funding for the U.S. Border Patrol for hiring and equipment, the National Guard Counter Drug program, and Operation Stonegarden which coordinates federal, state, local, and tribal efforts to keep the U.S.-Mexico border secure.

To read a copy of the letter, click here.

The letter is just the latest in Donnelly’s extensive support for halting illegal immigration and securing our borders.  Since coming to Congress, he has supported border fence construction, helped increase funding for customs and border protection by over 23%, and helped hire an additional 6,000 Border Patrol agents.

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