Member day testimony urges major border-security investments, seeks reimbursements for local law enforcement

Representative Gillen urged the House Appropriations Committee on member day to increase funding for border security, asking lawmakers to finance more Border Patrol agents, expanded aerial surveillance and reimbursements for local law enforcement responding to migration pressures.

Why it matters: Gillen told the committee the migrant situation is straining local services in his Long Island district and said federal funding is required to relieve schools, police and local governments. His requests included specific staffing and technology goals for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and a larger appropriation for the Department of Homeland Security program known as Operation Stone Garden.

In testimony delivered after remarks earlier from Congressman Moskowitz about FEMA and possible hearings, Representative Gillen said, “Our immigration system is broken,” and described long-term local impacts from storms and migration on his community. Gillen said the committee should fund hiring “an additional 10,000 border patrol agents,” citing a prior FY24 staffing target of 22,000 that CBP had not met and a projected wave of retirements.

Gillen also urged investment in “unmanned aerial systems equipped with thermal imaging” and other advanced technology, including a goal that CBP Air and Marine Operations reach 10,000 flight hours annually by fiscal 2026 and operate drones “24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” as stated in his remarks. He called for “strategic barriers where appropriate” and for continued funding of cooperative programs that reimburse state and local law enforcement for border-related costs.

On Operation Stone Garden, Gillen said the program had been funded at $90,000,000 in FY22 and FY23, was cut by $9,000,000 in FY24, and asked the committee to appropriate $110,000,000 for the program in FY26 (as stated in his testimony). He also urged the committee to provide “dedicated resources to help reimburse our local law enforcement for the costly [expenses] incurred in dealing with the migrant crisis.”

Committee response and next steps: The committee chair signaled openness to holding additional hearings on related topics raised earlier in the session, including a possible hearing on a bill introduced by Congressman Moskowitz and separate presentations by FEMA. The chair said such a hearing could “just see what the testimony does.” Committee staff were directed to stay in contact with Gillen’s office; the chair noted staffer “Al” would be in direct contact and the committee would keep members apprised as the subcommittee mark and full committee process proceed.

No formal votes or appropriations were taken during this member day exchange; the committee discussion recorded requests and an agreement to coordinate staff follow-up. Gillen concluded his remarks by thanking the chair and ranking member and yielding back the time.

The testimony combined appeals for increased personnel, technology and grant funding with requests to mitigate costs borne by local jurisdictions such as Nassau County and Long Island school districts and police departments.