Napolitano Touts US-Mexico Border Security

By Anna Cameron 

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano denounced claims that the U.S.-Mexico border is “overrun or out of control,” as she touted Friday significant improvements in all areas of border enforcement. 

“Given the deployment of resources, given the statistical framework, it is simply inaccurate to state, as too many have, that the border with Mexico is…out of control,” urged Napolitano. “This statement…is wrong. It’s just plain wrong.” 

According to Napolitano, these misconceptions are hurting border communities, as targeted cities cannot recruit businesses, employees and students.

“It needs to be a realization in the United States and in Mexico that American border communities are safe,” Napolitano said.

Since the launch of the Southwest Border Initiative in March of 2009, several resources have been deployed along the border in order to facilitate travel and trade, and to increase security. Additionally, the size of the border control and the number of task force personnel has been increased to more than double that of previous years. The number of ICE intel analysts has also been raised. 

Despite these marked advancements in border security, Napolitano emphasized the importance of an increased focus on immigration reform.  

“The border is important for our country, but so is immigration reform,” said Napolitano. “The president has…laid out an outline for what an immigration bill should look like…that recognizes that our nation is a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants, and these things do not have to be mutually exclusive.”