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V.I. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATE | |||
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Monique Clendinen Watson (202) 226-7973 | |||
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| (Washington, DC, November 17, 2005) — Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen said today that legislation to establish a border patrol unit for the Virgin Islands passed the Homeland Security Committee this morning. Christensen successfully amended the Border Security Act of 2005 to include the establishment of an entity to patrol the waters surrounding the territory. It was included in a block of non-controversial amendments which enjoyed the support of both Republicans and Democrats. “The issue of a border patrol unit for the Virgin Islands has been a priority of mine even before I became a member of this committee,” Christensen told the panel. “It is an issue that I have raised every time we mark up a bill that was even remotely connected to the issue and I am pleased that we will at long last be able to positively dispose of it for the benefit of the people of my district,” she said. The Delegate told the Committee that the Virgin Islands has over 175 miles of unprotected and open borders. “We have become a gateway of choice for smugglers into the United States in the Caribbean,” she said emphasizing that securing the nation’s air, land and sea borders is a difficult, yet critical task. Christensen said that the eventual passage of this legislation may have additional benefits for the territory. “Securing a Border Patrol Unit for the Virgin Islands and the additional border security it will provide will strengthen our case as we continue to press for a waiver of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) program which is hindering the ability of our Charter Boats and Charter Yachts to conduct business.” | |||
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