SEE ALSO: ‘Virtual fence’ being built along Mexican border is plagued by glitches, may be scaled back
Erin Kelly
AZ Central
February 3, 2010
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s proposed 2011 budget would cut the border patrol by 180 agents and trim spending on a “virtual fence” along the nation’s Southwest border.
[efoods]Homeland security officials confirmed the proposed cuts Monday during a budget briefing for reporters. They said no border patrol agents would lose their jobs. Instead, the positions would be cut through attrition as agents retire or leave.
Remaining agents would be better paid as part of a plan to increase the salaries of experienced frontline officers.
Senior Obama administration officials said they do not expect the proposed cuts to reduce the effectiveness of the border patrol, which has doubled in size during the past five years to more than 20,000 agents.
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