WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers struggling to rewrite the nation's immigration laws have focused almost exclusively on sealing up the U.S. border with Mexico, ignoring important needs along the 4,000-mile U.S. boundary with Canada, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., says.
The three-term senator points to a federal program that reimburses four Southwestern states for border-related law enforcement costs. She says Congress should provide the same help to cities and counties near Canada.
Murray cites the costs incurred by local law enforcement agencies when federal agencies make arrests for border-related crimes but then dump the cases on local police and sheriff's departments.
"Our Northern border counties are spending millions of dollars on cases that are initiated by federal agencies," Murray said.
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