Leahy Urges INS To Reconsider Plan Reducing Staffing Along Northern Border

February 24, 2000

Sen. Patrick Leahy is urging the federal immigration service to reconsider a recently proposed plan to reduce the number inspectors -- at select, busy times with heavy traffic -- along the Vermont-Canada border.

In a letter to the commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Leahy wrote that now "is not the time for reductions in resources to maintain security and promote commerce on our border. I ask you to reconsider these proposed reductions and instead retain the current level of staffing at our border." Leahy -- the Democratic Leader of the Senate Judiciary Committee -- which has jurisdiction over immigration matters, sent the letter on Wednesday.

The INS has proposed reducing the number of inspectors at several stations on the Vermont-Canada border on Sundays and holidays.

"Our border inspectors performed admirably during the recent terrorism scare, but the added costs of this heightened state of alert has forced the INS to consider reductions in staff," said Leahy. "This proposal could shortchange the expeditious and vigilant border patrol force that we now have deployed. There are already sufficient resources in Washington to cover this shortfall. Instead of reducing the number of border inspectors along the Vermont border, the INS should transfer funds from ample and existing sources so that no staffing reductions are implemented."

In his letter, Leahy wrote that "under normal circumstances at Vermont's Highgate border station, to give one example, three inspectors are on duty. Under the INS proposal, a single INS inspector would be responsible for handling border crossings on Sundays, the most heavily trafficked day of the year. Similar reductions are expected at Vermont's other border crossings. At best, this will lead to extensive delays at the border." The Senator asks that officials at INS headquarters in Washington reallocate existing funds so that no staffing time reductions are made.

A copy of the Senator's letter is available upon request. FOR RELEASE: Feb. 24, 2000