WASHINGTON, May 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President
Trump's FY 2018 budget proposal to Congress includes just
$1.6 billion for construction of new
secure border fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, less than 10 percent of the
estimated price tag for the much-needed and long overdue border
security infrastructure.
Secure border fencing was promised by Congress in legislation
passed in 2007, but never funded. President Trump also made
building a border wall a cornerstone pledge of his campaign, saying
it was a necessary and permanent step to securing our nation's
borders, a promise he appears to be going back on.
"We can only assume that President Trump has struck a secret
deal with Mexico to get them to
pay for the border fence he promised, because funding for the
project sure isn't in the budget proposal he sent to Congress,"
said Dan Stein, president of FAIR.
"After yielding to Democratic obstructionists on funding for the
fence in order to ensure passage of the omnibus spending bill
earlier this month, the president implied that he would fight to
ensure that adequate funding was included in the FY 2018 budget.
Nothing in this budget proposal suggests that he is fighting very
hard.
"A secure fence along the southern border is an integral and
necessary component of an effective strategy to control illegal
immigration and safeguard our national security. As we have seen
around the world, secure fencing is an effective way to control
borders," noted Stein. "The cost of an effective border barrier is
significant – about $20 billion,
according to many estimates – which is only a fraction of the
annual federal, state, and local costs we incur as a result of mass
illegal immigration, which totals $113
billion."
"The key to regaining control of our immigration system is to
effectively deter people who are contemplating breaking our laws
and effective enforcement against those who do. Unfortunately,
President Trump's budget requests do not demonstrate the resolve
that is needed to fulfill the promises that he made to the American
people," concluded Stein.
ABOUT FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform
group. With more than 1.3 million members and supporters
nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve
national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that
immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the
economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a
rule of law that is recognized and enforced.
Media Contact: Cassie Williams,
cawilliams@fairus.org, 202-328-7004
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fair-mexico-must-be-paying-for-the-border-wall-because-its-not-in-president-trumps-2018-budget-300462769.html
SOURCE FAIR