Inhofe meets with Customs and Border Patrol officials

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) made the following statement after meeting with Customs and Border Patrol officials in Brownsville, Texas and touring the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday.

“Any immigration reform legislation Congress considers in the coming months must prioritize securing our borders and creating an effective system that tracks whether those entering on temporary visas have left the country,” said Inhofe. “With the President drastically reducing budgets that impact national security, it’s important that Congress is realistically reviewing what of our resources will be needed to address growing border security concerns. We should also respect those who have worked hard to abide by the legal process to become citizens of our great nation and not institute a plan that simply clears the slate and grants amnesty to the 11 million who are here illegally.”

“I want to thank Brownsville’s Customs and Border Patrol officials who hosted me during my visit to the border. As Congress looks to debate this important issue, I hope more of my colleagues will come see first-hand the reality of what is taking place along our borders and the work our men and women are doing with limited resources.”

During his visit to the border, Inhofe met with Assistant Chief Lee Pena and Special Operations Supervisor Enrique Mediola at the Brownsville Border Patrol Station. Along with touring the border, Inhofe also toured the station’s video surveillance system and processing area.