“It's amazing the progress that's been made," Bush said. "I was most impressed by your strategy, but more impressed by the fact that it's now being implemented."

With a backdrop of CBP Border Patrol agents in green and Guard members in camouflage, the President highlighted improvements toward border security, pointing out a 68 percent decline in apprehensions compared with the same period the previous fiscal year, the significant increase in the number of agents patrolling the border as well as the influx of infrastructure and technology, including the Unmanned Aircraft System, one of CBP’s most notable technological advances in border security.

“Securing the border is a critical part of a strategy for comprehensive immigration reform,” said Bush. It is an important part of a reform that is necessary so that the Border Patrol agents down here can do their job more effectively.”

In his remarks, President Bush addressed the elements of comprehensive immigration reform to include a secure border, detention and removal, interior enforcement, a temporary worker program and a resolution to the status of the millions of illegal aliens already in the country. The President also pressed for continued support from Congress and strengthened partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement partners.

Commissioner W. Ralph Basham, Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar and Yuma Border Patrol Chief Ronald Colburn met with the President.