For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today delivered remarks at the National War College highlighting the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) strategy for securing the Southwest border while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.
"Taken as a whole, our strategy represents the most serious and sustained action to secure our border in our nation's history, and every key measure indicates that this approach is working," said Secretary Napolitano. "The challenges we face at the border are real, but so too is the progress we've made."
During her remarks, Secretary Napolitano discussed the important steps taken by the Obama administration to strengthen and secure the Southwest border. Over the past several years, DHS has deployed unprecedented levels of personnel, technology, and resources to the Southwest Border, resulting in a 53 percent decrease in border apprehensions - a key indicator of illegal immigration - over the past three years.
Secretary Napolitano underscored the critical support from our partners across the federal government to facilitate our serious and sustained effort in this endeavor. In 2010, President Obama authorized the deployment of 1,200 National Guard troops to the Southwest border to support our efforts to combat cartel violence and the activities of criminal organizations. Since then, National Guard troops acted as a critical support bridge while the Administration brought on new assets provided by the 2010 supplemental appropriation.
Secretary Napolitano also highlighted the Department's commitment to securing the border while facilitating legitimate trade and travel. In 2010, President Barack Obama and Mexican President Calderon signed the Declaration on 21st Century Border Management to facilitate the lawful flow of goods, service and people between the two counties, and combat transnational crime.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.
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