President Joe Biden has revealed there is at least one area where he is a fiscal conservative: When it comes to providing the infrastructure needed to secure the border, he wants to spend significantly less than the government currently spends.
His administration has submitted a proposed Department of Homeland Security budget to Congress that would cut spending on so-called “border security resources and infrastructure” by 96%.
In fiscal year 2021, Congress approved $1,513,000,000 to fund border security assets and infrastructure. Biden is now asking Congress to approve just $54,315,000 for fiscal year 2022. That’s a reduction of $1,458,685,000 — or 96.4%.
What exactly is Biden cutting?
Biden’s DHS has submitted a 562-page “overview” of its fiscal year 2022 budget proposal for Customs and Border Protection to Congress. An explanation of the plan, “Border Security Assets and Infrastructure,” can be found on pages 326 to 350 of the document.
In the presentation, “Border Protection Assets and Infrastructure” was divided into six categories: Integrated Fixed Towers (IFT); Remote Video Surveillance Systems (RVSS); Mobile Video Surveillance System (MVSS); Modular Mobile Surveillance System MVSS-M2S2; Border Protection Assets and Infrastructure End Elements; and Border Wall System Program.
Over the past two fiscal years, Biden’s proposal says, the Border Wall System program has been the most significant. “This investment,” it says, “includes real estate and environmental planning, land acquisition, wall system design, construction, and construction and oversight of the physical barrier system.”
In fiscal year 2020, she received $1,375,000,000. In fiscal year 2021, she received the same amount.
If Biden gets his way, the federal government will not spend a dime in fiscal year 2022 on planning or building a “physical barrier system” at the border.
“Integrated Stationary Towers” is another element of DHS’s border security budget proposal. “This investment,” according to the proposal, “will provide automated, persistent, wide-area surveillance to detect, track, identify, and classify illegal entries into risk areas where mobile surveillance systems are not a feasible and/or long-term solution.”
How much does Biden want for this piece of infrastructure? Nothing.
In fiscal year 2020, Congress approved $1,142,000 for these towers. This fiscal year, it approved nothing. Biden wants to make sure it approves nothing again.
“Remote video surveillance systems” is another line item in DHS’s border security budget proposal. “This investment,” the proposal says, “includes permanently mounted, remotely controlled daytime or infrared camera systems that enhance situational awareness of border activities and facilitate appropriate problem-solving by law enforcement.”
How much does Biden want for this piece of infrastructure? Nothing.
In fiscal year 2020, Congress approved $40,740,000 for these surveillance systems. This fiscal year, it approved nothing. Biden wants to make sure it doesn’t approve anything again.
“A mobile video surveillance system” is another element. “This investment consists of sensors mounted on a telescopic mast on a light-duty pickup truck,” the proposal says. “The MVSS can be rapidly deployed to provide the ultimate in line-of-sight for surveillance out to several miles and provide USBP situational awareness.”
In fiscal year 2020, Congress approved $14.8 million for these systems. This year, it approved nothing. Biden wants nothing again.
The next component is the “MVSS-M2S2 Modular Mobile Surveillance System.” The proposal explains that the “M2S2” is “the successor to the MVSS investment” and “consists of a Non-Developmental Items (NDI)/Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) surveillance system based on a light truck, with radar and camera sensors, and backhaul communications capability.”
This year, Congress approved $15 million for the system. How much does Biden want for it in the coming fiscal year? Nothing.
Finally, we have “Border Security Assets and Infrastructure End Items.” “These orders,” the proposal says, “include funding for multiple technologies and assets for USBP.” Congress authorized $77,106,000 for them in fiscal year 2020 and $123,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.
Biden wants $54,315,000 for fiscal year 2022.
Indeed, the $54,315,000 allocated to this one category equals the total money Biden is requesting for “border security assets and infrastructure” in fiscal year 2022.
At the same time, Biden is calling for $655 million to fund “construction upgrades” at CBP’s “land ports of entry,” through which people legally enter the United States.
Yes, Biden wants to cut federal spending on border security assets and infrastructure designed to keep illegal immigrants out by $1,458,685,000, while increasing spending by $655,000,000 on formal border crossings.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas discussed his department’s budget request at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing last week.
“First, the President’s budget invests in a secure border,” Mayorkas said. “It allocates $1.2 billion for more effective and modern port and border security, including $655 million to modernize our land ports of entry, another $47 million to integrate Customs and Border Protection’s detection capabilities, and robust investments in border surveillance technology.”
“There is no request to build additional border wall,” Mayorkas said.
Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, the committee’s top member, expressed disbelief at the Biden administration’s proposal.
“You are not giving yourselves the tools you need to enable the Border Patrol to do its job,” Portman said.
He’s right. Biden won’t secure the border.
Terence P. Jeffrey is the editor-in-chief of CNSnews.com.
