Dalton Daily Citizen
February 25, 2006

Sen. Isakson: Border more secure
By Charles Oliver

The federal government’s first priority when dealing with immigration must be to secure the U.S.-Mexican border, says U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.

“My focus first and foremost is stopping the flow of illegals at the border. Once you do that you can deal with the other issues,” he said.

Isakson spoke to The Daily Citizen after returning from a three-day fact-finding mission along the border.

“We started in California, San Diego and Tijuana, and saw the tunnel that was recently uncovered,” he said.

Isakson said he was pleased with the improvement of border security in the last few years.

“Now, we are turning around in that Arizona-California corridor about three out of every four trying to get in. It used to be three out of every four got in,” he said.

Isakson said one of the most revealing portions of the trip was viewing the work of an unmanned reconnaissance plane that patrols for smugglers along the border between Arizona and Mexico.

“We saw the tremendous value of that unmanned reconnaissance plane and what it is doing to help in interdiction,” he said.

The planes can spot those attempting to cross the border, and operators can alert Border Patrol agents.

Isakson said he will push for full funding of 26 unmanned planes needed to completely patrol the U.S.-Mexican border round the clock. He said the planes cost about $10 million each.

Isakson said the U.S. doesn’t need to fence the entire border, but there are areas where the geography makes crossing particularly easy, and fences “will be extremely helpful” in reducing smuggling and illegal crossings in those areas.

“We need the capital investment to do that. We need the capital investment for stationary cameras at certain key points,” he said.