‘Smart, effective border security’

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) said the Democratic Party-led U.S. House of Representatives looks forward to the bipartisan conference committee that would work on legislation that values all workers while keeping the border of the country protected.

Sablan is an independent member of the House but caucuses with the Democrats.

“House Democrats look forward to working in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass all of the bills to fund the government. When we go to conference, we will craft legislation that honors our values, respects our workers, and protects our borders. Democrats support smart, effective border security solutions,” Sablan said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

The bipartisan committee hopes to agree on a spending bill that would keep the federal government running to avoid another shutdown—a possible third time under the administration of President Donald J. Trump. The president has been requesting Congress for $5.7 billion to build a southern border wall, a key promise in his 2016 campaign.

Sablan said that infrastructure, technology, and increasing personnel would be some of the highlights of the legislation.

He said Democrats fully support strengthening the country’s southern border, but disagree with Trump’s proposal to build a concrete wall that would cost the government $5.7 billion—money that could be used for other infrastructure projects or programs.

A new bill aims to increase infrastructure investment at all ports of entry by building additional ports and roads that could avoid delays.

Sablan said he and his Democratic colleagues believe building up the ports of entry infrastructure would improve security, and facilitate better trade and travel—thus ending the long delays for tourists or visitors and commercial goods to enter the country, and cost the nation billions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of jobs.

Sablan added that improving technology in detecting contraband, drugs, and other illegal goods is another key point, i.e., “installing new technology to eventually scan all commercial and passenger vehicles for illegal drugs and other contraband at our ports of entry.”

“According to both [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] and [Drug Enforcement Agency], 90 percent of heroin, 88 percent of cocaine, 87 percent of methamphetamine, and 80 percent of fentanyl being smuggled into the U.S. are seized at official ports of entry, not in the areas between the ports of entry where the president wants to build his wasteful border wall.”

Upgrading to the latest technology in detecting unauthorized crossings and hiring additional personnel for law enforcement and agencies that protect the borders is also a must, he said.

That would involve installing cameras, sensors, and radar to spot moving people and objects, in any weather or time of day, that are mounted on towers and border patrol vehicles, and drones to surveil tough terrain.

The Democrats also want more immigration judges and customs personnel, Sablan said, including filling the more than 3,000 customs vacancies. That would mean facilitating trade and travel at all ports of entry, inspecting commercial and passenger vehicles for illegal drugs and other contraband, and ensuring that travelers are vetted and screened before entering the United States.

Sablan said these are some of how another government shutdown could be avoided while at the same provide the needed border security at the country’s ports of entries and at the southern border.

Under pressure

The government shut down last Dec. 22 after the Democrats thumbed down a continuing resolution that included $5 billion to fund the construction of a new wall at the southern border, which Trump bragged that Mexico is going to pay for. The standoff lasted 35 days, causing federal workers to miss two of their paychecks.

The deadlock ended on Jan. 29 after Congress agreed to resume the government’s operations while both parties negotiate a final piece of legislation that both Democrats and Republicans could support. The bipartisan conference committee now only have 10 days left to come up with a spending bill that Trump would be willing to sign.

“Thank God the 800,000 federal workers impacted by the shutdown are back to work. I’m pleased that a deal to re-open the government was reached, even if it is only until Feb. 14, for now. This allows the 15 Senate and House conferees to find agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security for the remainder of the fiscal year,” said Sablan.