LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Progress at Homeland

In her Thursday Commentary column (“Napolitano will help enforce the border” on the Web, “Our southern exposure” in the paper) Georgie Anne Geyer fails to acknowledge dramatic improvements in enforcement when calling for immigration reform.

There can’t be a serious debate in the months ahead on immigration reform without the recognition that the Department of Homeland Security has made a large down payment on public credibility when it comes to enforcement. We have doubled the size of the Border Patrol and built more than 450 miles of pedestrian and vehicle border fencing. We have made record numbers of alien arrests, to include more than 11,000 gang members, and we have deported nearly 350,000 in the past year alone.

We also require passports or secure documents for persons to enter the United States from within our own hemisphere, and we capture biometric data from foreign visitors upon entry for cross checks against terrorist and criminal watch lists.

We can agree with Mrs. Geyer on one thing: Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano will bring proven leadership and a keen grasp of border security issues. She is an excellent choice for secretary and undoubtedly will add to the progress that’s been made.

LAURA C. KEEHNER

Press secretary

Department of Homeland Security

Washington