Letter To The Honorable Janet Napolitano, Secretary, United States Department Of Homeland Security
Letter
U.S. Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, to urge U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to locate a new proposed border patrol station in Colebrook, New Hampshire.
The full text of the letter follows:
Dear Secretary Napolitano:
We write in regard to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) proposed construction and operation of a new border patrol station along the United States/Canada international border and to express our strong support for locating the station in the State of New Hampshire. In deciding between the two alternative sites, the Clark Parcel in Colebrook, New Hampshire, and the DuPont Parcel in Canaan, Vermont, we urge the CBP to take into account the substantive advantages of Colebrook as well as the distribution of border patrol stations between the two states. We are also concerned that, despite the advantages of the Colebrook location, the most recent CBP finding no longer lists Colebrook as the preferred site for this new facility.
Colebrook, situated along Route 3, provides unparalleled access to major roadways connecting the Northern border states of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine where the threat of illegal smuggling is significant. The Colebrook location would provide CBP a great geographical advantage for the interdiction of criminals violating our customs and immigration laws. In addition, CBP's own assessments have shown that the Colebrook site benefits from easy access to utilities such as electric and water, suitable topography, and a low-visibility, more private location. Constructing a new facility in Colebrook would also provide a much needed boost to the economy in New Hampshire's North Country. As Vermont already has four border patrol stations, including the Sector Headquarters, within its borders, locating the new border patrol station in Colebrook would give New Hampshires citizens the benefit of the safety and protection having such a facility would provide.
We know that CBP has already heard from the Colebrook Town Selectmen, the Coos County Commissioners, and many other residents of the North Country all in support of the Colebrook site. Locating this new station in Colebrook makes sense for New Hampshire and, more importantly, it makes sense for the mission of the CBP. For these reasons, we urge CBP to select the Colebrook site as the new Border Patrol Station.
We look forward to hearing from you as this important decision is made in the coming weeks. Please do not hesitate to contact either of us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Judd Gregg and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen
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