"As of May 31, 2009, we have determined that 894 miles of border are under effective control," Owen testified in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. "This includes 697 miles along the southwest border, 32 along the northern border and 165 in the coastal regions."
Easterling said this week that as of now the Border Patrol still has the same 894 miles of border under effective control that it had under effective control on May 31. He said the agency will not surrender a single one of these miles in the coming year.
"The intention is to take back the border incrementally and make gains that we can keep," Easterling told me. "We do not intend, nor will we give back, miles that we have gained control over."
Easterling said that when the new fiscal year starts next month, the Border Patrol will review its data and re-evaluate its goal. At a minimum, he said, the agency will set a goal for border miles secured that equals the 894 miles secured now. If possible, it will set a higher goal. But it will not decrease the number of border miles that are secured.
It will maintain at least the current level even while decreasing the number of agents deployed on the Mexico border.
In fiscal year 2009, Easterling said, there have been 17,399 Border Patrol agents deployed on the Mexican border. In fiscal year 2010, he said, the plan is to deploy 17,015, a decline of 384 agents. Meanwhile, the Border Patrol agents assigned to the Canadian border will climb from 1,798 to 2,212, an increase of 414.
Easterling said that even with 384 fewer agents deployed on the Mexican border, the Border Patrol will be able to maintain at least the current number of border miles under effective control because of "force multipliers." These include "tactical infrastructure" such as new roads and fencing that have been built, as well as assistance from local police and sheriffs departments and community watch organizations.
If the 697 miles of U.S.-Mexico border now under effective control is maintained in the coming year, that will leave approximately 1,300 miles of U.S-Mexico border that are not under effective control.