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U.S. Senators: Lack of Security On U.S.-Canada Border

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By Edgar Linares, NewsRadio 830 WCCO

WASHINGTON (WCCO) -- U.S. Senators say the Canadian Border needs more security along the 4,000-mile stretch.

A new government report was released by Government Accountability Office. It was also released by top members of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Governmental Affairs Committee.

"The findings speak for themselves," said Committee Chairman, Sen. Joe Lieberman. "These findings should sound a loud alarm to the Department of Homeland Security, the Canadian government and our Committee. The American people are grossly under-protected."

The report says Border Patrol agents were aware of all illegal border crossings on only 25 percent of the border which equals about 1,007 out of 4,000 miles

The DHS says terrorist are more likely to cross the Canadian border than the Mexican. They also say there are more Islamic Extremist Groups living in Canada than in Mexico.

Northern Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson says this report is nothing new. He says finding a way to secure such a large area is unrealistic and feels there isn't a significant problem to alarm people.

"The reality is we haven't had a problem," said Peterson. "If anybody came across there…. Well, everybody knows everybody else. The local people would pick up on this faster than anyone from Homeland Security."

Peterson feels this report is an effort on behalf of Homeland Security advocates to try and stop any cuts in funding.

"It sounds to be me like some of these people are trying to save their funding. They're trying to make the case why they shouldn't have to attribute to the budget deficit," said Peterson.

The report also showed $2.9 million were spent on securing the northern border in the fiscal 2010 year, but it only achieved an acceptable level of security on 32 of its 4,000 miles.

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