{"id":17383,"date":"2018-07-21T06:00:25","date_gmt":"2018-07-21T10:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-immigrationreform.pantheonsite.io\/?p=17383"},"modified":"2018-12-28T10:13:27","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T15:13:27","slug":"border-wall-funding-passes-the-first-hurdle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immigrationreform.com\/2018\/07\/21\/border-wall-funding-passes-the-first-hurdle\/","title":{"rendered":"Border Wall Funding Passes the First Hurdle"},"content":{"rendered":"
On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee<\/a> released proposed text<\/a> for the 2019 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Bill. Despite the fact that the Congressional appropriations process has been unpredictable<\/a> for the past several years, this year\u2019s DHS bill is sure to get extra attention. If the bill becomes law, it would fund some of President Trump\u2019s key immigration priorities\u2014 including a significant amount of money for border wall construction.<\/p>\n In 2016, the American people were explicit that illegal immigration was a top concern<\/a> with a border wall being the clearest mandate for this Congress. As we move towards the midterm elections, immigration reform remains a hot topic; and it is no surprise that Republicans are strengthening DHS funding at this time.<\/p>\n This bill contains $17.8 billion in funding for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) \u2014 a nearly $4 billion increase from last year\u2019s bill. These funds will be distributed throughout the agency, including providing for an increase in officers, personnel, and canine teams. Additionally, specific funds are aimed at combating the opioid crisis by increasing detection capabilities at international mail and express consignment facilities. Most notably (and controversially), the legislation provides $5 billion<\/a> for border security and infrastructure for over 200 miles of new physical barrier construction along the southern border.<\/p>\n Furthermore, despite recent calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the bill contains $7.4 billion for the agency, over $300 million more than is currently budgeted. Importantly, the majority of that funding is allocated for detention and removal programs including 44,000 detention beds. The funding of additional detention space is crucial<\/a>as President Trump has remained committed to his zero tolerance policy of prosecuting criminal aliens. The reminder of the funding would go towards the hiring of new officers and personnel as well as both domestic and international investigation programs to combat human trafficking, child exploitation, cybercrimes, visa screening, and drug smuggling. <\/p>\n