Article snippet: MORE is facing pressure from lawmakers in border districts to abandon plans for a wall and focus instead on modernizing security for the nation's border crossings. The border lawmakers say Trump should be seeking funds for technology and staffing at legal ports of entry on the Mexican border to improve security and improve crossing times. Rep. DEA, comes in personal vehicles, followed by tractor trailers, and a smaller percentage smuggled by "body carriers." A fair share of illegal immigration is also accounted for at ports of entry. In fiscal 2018, 396,579 people were caught trying to cross the border illegally, but a further 124,511 were turned away at U.S.-Mexico ports of entry, according to Customs and Border Protection. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who represents Laredo, the busiest international commercial land crossing in the world, said the focus of border security investment should be on technology to screen trucks and trains, and boots on the ground to speed up legal crossings. "Instead of spending those billions on fence, put it on ports of entry," said Cuellar. "If you want to stop drugs, that's how you do it." Cuellar added that, in addition to infrastructure and technology improvements, more "men and women in green" — Border Patrol officers — and "men and women in blue" — Customs and Border Protection officers — are needed to man the border, both at ports of entry and elsewhere. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), who along with Cuellar and Vela rep... Link to the full article to read more