helpful in seeing whether or not we could pursue this across more of the border than just in the del rio, yuma, and tucson sectors, since it does seem to be a program that is working. we met may 5, and i asked you to provide me with the resources required to do this. do you know if your people have been able to come up with this yet? >> i don't know yefment i'm not sure we have completed that yet. >> let me include that question in the record as a reminder of the information we are seeking. as soon as we can get that to us, i think that would be very helpful. we can't get the funding for these things until you tell us what's needed. obviously we have already gone by one budget cycle. obviously helpful in that would be how many people have been involved in this program, how well we think it has worked, and so on. if you would provide that for us. >> sure. we'll do that. >> finally, on the matter of the state criminal alien and assistance program, you are aware the government is authorized to pay states money for the housing of illegal immigrants who have committed crimes. our former gover

as you go across that border through big bend and up until the far side which is near a lake and del rio sector. these areas are very vulnerable to penetration by any number of things. and a lot of times the border patrol, as well as illustrating the national park service has a huge chunk there, huge chunk over in other parts, that this border is not simple and that when people say, can't you just put a couple thousand agents there and control the border, well, no. it is an incredible challenge. during my time in congress i have had the opportunity to visit almost every border patrol sector on the north end south borders. 2,000 miles in the south. the challenges are diverse and the criminal elements seeking to exploit our open borders are inventive and have significant resources. drug smugglers are using helicopters, fast boats and something as simple as coyotes, forcing illegal aliens to carry 50-pound loads of drugs on their back. the challenge is endless and the mission is critical. in the years that the border patrol has been in the department of homeland security, their agency has d

helpful in seeing whether or not we could pursue this across more of the border than just in the del rio, yuma and tucson areas since which is a program that is working. i asked you to meet with me on may 5th, increases of personnel and so on that would be required for this. do you know whether your folks would be able to do that. >> i'm not sure we have completed that. >> well, let me include that question in the record as a reminder of the information we were seeking and as soon as you can that to us that would be helpful, we can't get the funding for these things until you tell us what's needed and obviously we've already gone by one budget cycle. also, helpful in that regard would be information and i'll just ask this for the record of how -- how many people have been involved in this program. how well we think it's worked and so on. if you'd provide that for us. >> sure, will do that. >> finally, on the matter of the state criminal alien and assistance program, you're aware that the federal government is authorized to pay states money to -- as compensation for the housing of illegal