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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) welcomed the introduction of an amendment to S. 744, “The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act,” filed this afternoon by Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and John Hoeven (R-ND) that would substantially detail and strengthen the legislation’s border security and enforcement measures.

“The United States is a sovereign country, and we have a sovereign right to protect our border,” said Rubio.  “The Republican Border Surge Plan is based on ideas border patrol agents and others know to be effective and that conservatives have been pursuing for many years.  They’re ideas based on the state of the art technologies available to us today that weren’t around in 1986, 1996 or even 2006. 

“Together, these technologies will help us see who is coming across our border. The fence will make it harder for drugs and people to illegally cross. The increased manpower will make sure we apprehend those who cross. The E-Verify system will make sure that there is no future for those who live in our country illegally,” said Rubio.  “This is what’s needed to secure our border, end de facto amnesty and prevent a repeat of the disaster we have today.”

The amendment stipulates that no illegal immigrant can apply to become a legal permanent resident of the U.S. until at least ten years have elapsed and until five security triggers are achieved.  These triggers include the completion of at least 700 miles of secure pedestrian fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, doubling the number of border patrol agents with 20,000 new border patrol agents, and providing all nine sectors of the southern border with the state of the art technology and resources our border patrol agents need to secure the border, including unarmed drones, camera systems, ground sensors and radars, among other resources.  To eliminate the job magnet that attracts most illegal immigrants to the U.S., E-Verify must be completely implemented and mandatory for all U.S. businesses.  And to crack down on foreigners who overstay their visas – which accounts for 40 percent of today’s illegal immigrant population – an entry-exit system must be completely implemented.

More specifically, the state of the art technological enhancements along the border consist of at least 86 integrated fixed towers, 286 fixed camera systems, 232 mobile surveillance systems, 4595 unattended ground sensors, 820 handheld equipment devices, 416 personal radiation detectors, 104 radiation isotope identification devices, 62 mobile automated targeting systems, 53 fiber-optic tank inspection scopes, 37 portable contraband detectors, 28 license plate readers, 26 mobile inspection scopes and sensors for checkpoints, 9 land automated targeting systems, 8 non-intrusive inspection systems, 4 unmanned aircraft systems, 6 VADER radar systems, 17 UH-1N helicopters, 8 C-206H aircraft upgrades, 8 AS-350 light enforcement helicopters, 10 Blackhawk helicopter 10 A-L conversions, 5 new Blackhawk M Model, 30 marine vessels, 93 sensor repeaters, 90 communications repeaters, 2 card reader systems, 5 camera refresh, 3 backscatters, 1 radiation portal monitor, 1 littoral detection, 1 real time radioscopy and improved surveillance capabilities for existing aerostat.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE REPUBLICAN “BORDER SURGE” AMENDMENT

The U.S. Senate must improve the border security provisions in its immigration bill to give the American people confidence that we will not have future waves of illegal immigration.  The newly introduced Republican “Border Surge” Amendment improves border security by removing responsibility from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a border security and fencing plan and instead mandates precisely what must be done to secure the U.S. border with Mexico before any illegal immigrant can become an American citizen, or even a permanent resident of the U.S.  This amendment was drafted with input from border patrol officials, border state officials, security experts, and members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

This amendment stipulates that illegal immigrants cannot apply to become a legal permanent resident of the U.S., until at least ten years have elapsed and until all of the following measures are implemented:

• The completion of at least 700 miles of secure pedestrian fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. 

• Doubling the number of border patrol agents with 20,000 new border patrol agents.

• To eliminate the job magnet that attracts most illegal immigrants to the U.S., E-Verify must be completely implemented and mandatory for all U.S. businesses.

• To crack down on foreigners who overstay their visas – which accounts for 40 percent of today’s illegal immigrant population – an entry-exit system must be completely implemented.

• Providing all nine sectors of the Southwestern Border with the state of the art technology and resources our border patrol agents need to secure the border, including but not limited to the following:

ARIZONA (YUMA AND TUCSON SECTORS)

• (i) 50 integrated fixed towers.
• (ii) 73 fixed camera systems (with relocation capability), which include Remote Video Surveillance Systems.
• (iii) 28 mobile surveillance systems, which include mobile video surveillance systems, agent-portable surveillance systems, and mobile surveillance capability systems.
• (iv) 685 unattended ground sensors, including seismic, imaging, and infrared.
• (v) 22 handheld equipment devices, including handheld thermal imaging systems and night vision goggles.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY:

• (I) 3 integrated fixed towers.
• (II) 41 fixed camera systems
• (with relocation capability), which include Remote Video Surveillance Systems.
• (III) 14 mobile surveillance systems, which include mobile video surveillance systems, agent-portable surveillance systems, and mobile surveillance capability systems.
• (IV) 393 unattended ground sensors, including seismic, imaging, and infrared.
• (V) 83 handheld equipment devices, including handheld thermal imaging systems and night vision goggles.

AT POINTS OF ENTRY, CHECK POINTS:

• (I) 2 non-intrusive inspection systems, including fixed and mobile.
• (II) 1 radiation portal monitor.
• (III) 1 littoral detection and classification network

EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA

BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY:

• (I) 66 fixed camera systems (with relocation capability), which include Remote Video Surveillance Systems.
• (II) 18 mobile surveillance systems, which include mobile video surveillance systems, agent-portable surveillance systems, and mobile surveillance capability systems.
• (III) 85 unattended ground sensors, including seismic, imaging, and infrared.
• (IV) 57 handheld equipment devices, including handheld thermal imaging systems and night vision goggles.
• (V) 2 sensor repeaters.
• (VI) 2 communications repeaters.

AT POINTS OF ENTRY, CHECKPOINTS:

• (I) 5 fiber-optic tank inspection scopes.
• (II) 1 license plate reader.
• (III) 1 backscatter.
• (IV) 2 portable contraband detectors.
• (V) 2 radiation isotope identification devices.
• VI) 8 radiation isotope identification devices updates.
• (VII) 3 personal radiation detectors.
• (VIII) 16 mobile automated targeting systems.

EL PASO, TEXAS

BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY:

• (I) 27 integrated fixed towers.
• (II) 71 fixed camera systems (with relocation capability), which include Remote Video Surveillance Systems.
• (III) 31 mobile surveillance systems, which include mobile video surveillance systems, agent-portable surveillance systems, and mobile surveillance capability systems
• (IV) 170 unattended ground sensors, including seismic, imaging, and  infrared.
• (V) 24 handheld equipment devices, including handheld thermal imaging systems and night vision goggles.
• (VI) 1 communications repeater.
• (VII) 1 sensor repeater.
• (VIII) 2 camera refresh.

AT POINTS OF ENTRY, CHECKPOINTS:

• (I) 4 non-intrusive inspection systems, including fixed and mobile.
• (II) 23 fiber-optic tank inspection scopes.
• (III) 1 portable contraband detectors.
• (IV) 19 radiation isotope identification devices updates.
• (V) 1 real time radioscopy version 4.
• (VI) 8 personal radiation detectors

BIG BEND, TEXAS

BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY:

• (I) 7 fixed camera systems (with relocation capability), which include remote video surveillance systems.
• (II) 29 mobile surveillance systems, which include mobile video surveillance systems, agent-portable surveillance systems, and mobile surveillance capability systems.
• (III) 1105 unattended ground sensors, including seismic, imaging, and infrared.
• (IV) 131 handheld equipment devices, including handheld thermal imaging systems and night vision goggles.
• (V) 1 mid-range camera refresh.
• (VI) 1 improved surveillance capabilities for existing aerostat.
• (VII) 27 sensor repeaters.
• (VIII) 27 communications repeaters.

AT POINTS OF ENTRY, CHECKPOINTS:

• (I) 7 fiber-optic tank inspection scopes.
• (II) 3 license plate readers, including mobile, tactical, and fixed.
• (III) 12 portable contraband detectors.
• (IV) 7 radiation isotope identification devices.
• (V) 12 radiation isotope identification devices updates.
• (VI) 254 personal radiation detectors.
• (VII) 19 mobile automated targeting systems.

DEL RIO, TEXAS

BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY:

• (I) 3 integrated fixed towers.
• (II) 74 fixed camera systems(with relocation capability), which include remote video surveillance systems.
• (III) 47 mobile surveillance systems, which include mobile video surveillance systems, agent-portable surveillance systems, and mobile surveillance capability systems.
• (IV) 868 unattended ground sensors, including seismic, imaging, and infrared.
• (V) 174 handheld equipment devices, including handheld thermal imaging systems and night vision goggles.
• (VI) 26 mobile/handheld inspection scopes and sensors for checkpoints.
• (VII) 1 improved surveillance capabilities for existing aerostat.
• (VIII) 21 sensor repeaters.
• (IX) 21 communications repeaters.

AT POINTS OF ENTRY, CHECKPOINTS:

• (I) 4 license plate readers, including mobile, tactical, and fixed.
• (II) 13 radiation isotope identification devices updates.
• (III) 3 mobile automated targeting systems.
• (IV) 6 land automated targeting systems.

LAREDO, TEXAS

BETWEEN THE PORTS OF ENTRY:

• (I) 2 integrated fixed towers.
• (II) 69 fixed camera systems (with relocation capability), which include remote video surveillance systems.
• (III) 38 mobile surveillance systems, which include mobile video surveillance systems, agent-portable surveillance systems, and mobile surveillance capability systems.
• (IV) 573 unattended ground sensors, including seismic, imaging, and infrared.
• (V) 124 handheld equipment devices, including handheld thermal imaging systems and night vision goggles.
• (VI) 38 sensor repeaters.
• (VII) 38 communications repeaters.

AT POINTS OF ENTRY, CHECKPOINTS:

• (I) 1 non-intrusive inspection system.
• (II) 7 fiber-optic tank inspection scopes.
• (III) 19 license plate readers, including mobile, tactical, and fixed.
• (IV) 2 backscatter.
• (V) 14 portable contraband detectors.
• (VI) 2 radiation isotope identification devices.
• (VII) 18 radiation isotope identification devices updates.
• (VIII) 16 personal radiation detectors.
• (IX) 24 mobile automated targeting systems.
• (X) 3 land automated targeting systems.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY

BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY:

• (I) 1 integrated fixed towers.
• (II) 87 fixed camera systems(with relocation capability), which include remote video surveillance systems.
• (III) 27 mobile surveillance systems, which include mobile video surveillance systems, agent-portable surveillance systems, and mobile surveillance capability systems.
• (IV) 716 unattended ground sensors, including seismic, imaging, and infrared.
• (V) 205 handheld equipment devices, including handheld thermal imaging systems and night vision goggles.
• (VI) 4 sensor repeaters.
• (VII) 1 communications repeater.
• (VIII) 2 camera refresh.

AT POINTS OF ENTRY, CHECKPOINTS:

• (I) 1 mobile non-intrusive inspection system.
• (II) 11 fiberoptic tank inspection scopes.
• (III) 1 license plate reader.
• (IV) 2 backscatter.
• (V) 2 card reader system.
• (VI) 8 portable contraband detectors.
• (VII) 5 radiation isotope identification devices.
• (VIII) 18 radiation isotope identification devices updates.
• (IX) 135 personal radiation detectors.

AIR AND MARINE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST BORDER:

• (I) 4 unmanned aircraft systems.
• (II) 6 VADER radar systems.
• (III) 17 UH-1N helicopters.
• (IV) 8 C-206H aircraft upgrades.
• (V) 8 AS-350 light enforcement helicopters.
• (VI) 10 Blackhawk helicopter 10 A-L conversions, 5 new Blackhawk M Model.
• (VII) 30 marine vessels.