Chertoff foresees secure border with Mexico by 2008

By Michelle Mittelstadt

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

WASHINGTON — The federal government will gain operational control of the Southwest border in 2008, two years ahead of schedule, due to $1.9 billion in extra money for enforcement and the deployment of National Guard troops to the region, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff pledged Thursday.

"Obviously there are, of course, unpredictable elements in this," Chertoff told the House subcommittee that controls his department's purse strings. "But I think the supplemental (funding) and the use of the National Guard in the intervening period of time really does give us a jump-start in getting this done."

While Chertoff sketched a rosy view of immigration enforcement developments at the border and inside the country, House appropriators were far more skeptical.

During the two-hour hearing, they grumbled about a lack of strategic planning, inadequate contractor oversight and delays in completing the US-VISIT program to track foreigners' entry and departure from the country.