“The federal government has not engaged in (border security) at all.”
Gov. Rick Perry says the federal government “has not engaged” in border security
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has railed against the Obama administration for failing to adequately invest in border security in Texas. At the Fox News Google debate in Orlando Sept. 22, 2011, he took it a step further, saying “the federal government has not engaged in (border security) at all.”
Here’s how the debate unfolded:
Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace asked former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum whether he thought Perry was soft on illegal immigration.
SANTORUM: And so, yes, I would say that (Perry) is soft on illegal immigration. I think the fact that he doesn’t want to build a fence — he gave a speech in 2001 where he talked about, bi-national health insurance between Mexico and Texas. I mean, I don’t even think Barack Obama would be for bi-national health insurance.
So I think he’s very weak on this issue of American sovereignty and protecting our borders and not being a magnet for illegal immigration, yes.
WALLACE: Governor Perry, 30 seconds to respond, sir.
PERRY: I’ve got one question for him.
Have you ever even been to the border with Mexico?
SANTORUM: Yes.
PERRY: I’m surprised if you have, but you weren’t paying attention, because the idea that you —
SANTORUM: Well, the answer is, yes, I have.
PERRY: — are going to build a wall, a fence for 1,200 miles, and then go 800 miles more to Tijuana, does not make sense. You put the boots on the ground.
We know how to make this work. You put the boots on the ground. You put the aviation assets —
SANTORUM: But it’s not working, Governor.
PERRY: — in the ground. No, it’s not working because the federal government has not —
SANTORUM: But you said we know how it works. Is it working in Texas?
PERRY: The federal government has not engaged in this at all. When I’m the president of the United States, I’ll promise you one thing —
SANTORUM: But you’re saying you put the assets there. Has it worked in Texas?
PERRY: — we will put the assets on the ground —
SANTORUM: You said you have.
PERRY: — the boots on the ground —
BAIER: Senator Santorum, let him finish, please.
PERRY: — the aviation assets on the ground, and we will stop illegal immigration, we will stop the drug cartels, and we will make America secure.
SANTORUM: Can you answer the question? Is it working?
WALLACE: Well, you know, you asked your question, he gave his answer, sir.
SANTORUM: OK.
So, according to Perry, the goverment needs to get boots, among other assets, on the ground to stop illegal immigration, stop drug cartels and secure the country. And the reason “it’s not working” now is because “the federal government has not engaged in this at all.”
Meanwhile, at the end of fiscal year 2010, the federal Department of Homeland Security investments in border security had grown to $11.9 billion and included more than 40,000 personnel, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
We’re not checking whether federal investment has been effective — merely, as Perry said, whether the federal government has been “engaged.”
Our Sources
Transcript of Sept. 22, 2011, Republican presidential debate in Orlando, Fla. (via CQ Newsmaker Transcripts)
Texas Legislative Budget Board, "Homeland Security Funding in Texas," Dec. 2008
PolitiFact, "Obama says border patrol has doubled the number of agents since 2004," May 10, 2011 (True)
PolitiFact Georgia, "Obama: U.S. has more agents than ever patrolling borders," April 29, 2011 (Mostly True)
