Rep. Miller pushes bill to tighten border security
By TODD SPANGLER
DETROIT FREE PRESS
WASHINGTON – A Michigan congresswoman introduced legislation today that would force federal agencies to increase security on the nation’s northern and southern borders.

U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, Harrison Township Republican, proposed the bill which would force the U.S. Homeland Security Department to come up with a plan for “gaining operational control” of both borders in five years.

The legislation cites a recent Government Accountability Office report that found the federal government has less than half of the southern border and less than 2% of the vast northern border under direct operational control.

Miller is the chairwoman of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee.

“The American people rightly expect and demand that the federal government take the responsibility to secure our borders seriously,” Miller said. “This means preventing unlawful entries, illicit drugs and other contraband from entering our nation.”

She said that because of the “wide scope” of the problem of drugs, contraband and illegal immigrants coming across both borders, border patrols are often undermanned.

Matt Chandler, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the agency does not comment on pending legislation. But he noted that the department has “engaged in an unprecedented effort to bring focus and intensity to border security by deploying historic numbers of personnel, manpower and infrastructure.”

Border patrol apprehensions are down, he said, while there has been an increase in the seizure of illegal currency, drugs and weapons along the southern border.