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SEN.  CONRAD WELCOMES UAV

WASHINGTON - Sen.  Kent Conrad Saturday welcomed the arrival of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to the U.S.  Customs and Border Protection's Grand Forks Air Branch.  The arrival of the Predator B is the culmination of a four-year effort by Sen.  Conrad ( D-N.D.  ) and the congressional delegation to shore up security along the nation's northern border.

"It is vital to America's security that we protect our borders, particularly the northern border," Senator Conrad said.  "The Grand Forks Air Branch plays an essential role in helping shut the door on terrorists who want to sneak across remote border points to strike on U.S.  soil."

The Border Patrol headquarters in Grand Forks monitors close to 900 miles of territory along the U.S.  border with Canada.  The Air Branch includes helicopters for surveillance and interdiction as well as fixed wing airplanes fitted with specialized sensors and equipment.  Now the Air Branch will use the state-of-the-art Predator B UAV to patrol and provide security along the northern border against terrorists, illegal immigration and narcotics traffickers.

Conrad has long been a supporter of establishing a branch of the Northern Border Air Wing in Grand Forks.  In 2005, he secured $2 million in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for the establishment and operation of a Grand Forks air branch.  In 2006, he secured an additional $17 million in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill to accelerate plans for a Northern Border Air Wing.

Customs and Border Protection opened the first two Air branches at Bellingham, Wash., and Plattsburgh, N.Y., in 2004.  They were followed by branches in Great Falls, Mont., in 2006 and Grand Forks in 2007.  The fifth and final branch of the Northern Border Air Wing opened earlier this year in Michigan.

The Predator B that arrived Saturday was the first of four UAVs that will operate out of the Grand Forks Air Branch.  It is expected to begin patrolling the northern border next month.