On February 1, 2010, President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2011 budget. From an immigration standpoint, the President's 2011 budget is designed to "strengthen border security and immigration enforcement by supporting 20,000 Border Patrol agents, adding 300 new officers at ports of entry, completing the first segment of the virtual border fence, and by enhancing and expanding immigration verification systems."
Compared to last year's 2010 budget, there are fewer dollars directed towards making the legal immigration process more efficient or supporting legal immigrants. In fact, from an immigration perspective, the President's 2011 budget is dismal, focusing strictly on security and enforcement.
Department of Homeland Security
Border security and immigration services is a key national security priority. The Homeland Security 2011 budget:
- $4.6 billion to support 20,000 Border Patrol agents and complete the first segment of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) virtual border fence.
- Includes $94 million for 300 new CBP Officers for passenger and cargo screening at ports of entry as well as expansion of pre-screening operations at foreign airports and land ports of entry.
- More than $1.6 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement programs to expeditiously identify and remove from the United States illegal aliens who commit crimes. Included in this total is continued support for the Secure Communities program.
- $137 million for enhancements and expansion of immigration related verification programs (E-Verify) at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Support for integration of new immigrants with $18 million identified to promote citizenship through education and preparation programs, replication of promising practices in integration for use by communities across the Nation, and expansion of innovative English learning tools.
Department of Justice
Securing the nation's borders also falls under the Department of Justice. From the Department of Justice 2011 budget:
- $330 million for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to assist States and localities in the identification, status determination and conduct of removal proceedings of incarcerated illegal aliens.
- Additionally, the Budget includes additional funding for enforcement along the Nation’s borders, combining the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutorial units to investigate arrest, detain, and prosecute criminal illegal aliens, as well as those who enter or stay in the country without proper documentation.
Estimated spending in millions for the Department of Homeland Security's three immigration-related agencies.
USCIS
Actual 2009: 149
Estimate 2010: 224
Estimate 2011: 382
ICE
Actual 2009: 4,992
Estimate 2010: 5,437
Estimate 2011: 4,424
CBP
Actual 2009: 9,686
Estimate 2010: 10,134
Estimate 2011: 9,817
Source: Whitehouse.gov
