Border securityEl Paso police receives a federal grant, but resident are worried about CBP budget cuts

As the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency begins to deal with significant budget cuts and furloughs, the local law enforcement in El Paso, Texas has just received additional funding.

The El Paso County Commissioners have renewed a $700,000 federal grant which will be split among the El Paso Sheriff’s Office, El Paso Police, and Horizon Police to help with border protection.

9HDElPaso reports that residents in El Paso must constantly deal with illegal immigrants trespassing on their property. The El Paso Sheriff’s department responds when called, but many residents believe U.S. Border Patrol agents are more suitable for  the fight against illegal border crossings.

George and Debbie Brenzovich have dealt with border crossers first hand and recall one time a man came directly to their doorstep. “He opened the gate, came across the front yard and came to the front door. When I opened the front door, I saw a man standing right there. “I grabbed the shotgun and I told him to get the heck away from the house,” Debbie said describing that terrifying day.

Debbie said the same thing has happened at least six or seven times in the past year.

CBP is now facing $750 million in spending cuts due to the sequester that took place last Friday. As a result, all CBP employees face up to fourteen furlough days which are set to start next month.

CBP issued a notice last week saying that since it was redirecting all available resources to its most critical core functions, then non-mission critical expenditures, such as travel and training, would be curtailed.

There will also be fewer agents on the ground at  border crossings, which means  longer lines and wait times for  people expecting to cross the border into the United States.