Dear Senator Gallego,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S.2200, the “First Responders Emergency Assistance Act.”
As law enforcement officers, our members are often the first ones to encounter individuals crossing our borders and process them appropriately. However, when these crossings rapidly increase or there is a surge of people attempting to unlawfully cross the border in large numbers, our law enforcement officers need additional resources to respond. By providing grants to law enforcement officers and other first responders, this bill would help coordinate efforts between agencies to address any surge in the arrival or presence of aliens who have entered the United States.
The new grant program established by this bill would support law enforcement officers and other first responders to fund operational costs, assist with staffing needs, and help cover overtime costs. Federal funding would come through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and distributed to communities along both the Southern and Northern borders. The Department would have the discretion to send supplemental funds to areas with high immigration rates, allowing law enforcement agencies to be reimbursed by the government for costs related to illegal crossings. Our members play a critical role in securing our border, and this bill would provide vital funding to address any influx of migrants entering the U.S.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, thank you for your leadership on this important issue. If I can provide any additional information in support of this legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President