When is it OK to reduce the funding for border fencing and tech upgrades? When Republicans do it reduce federal spending. Talking Points Memo has details:

You might expect anti-immigration groups to be in an uproar over spending cuts contained in the recent budget deal, like a $226 million cut to Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology or $97 million in cuts to IT modernization programs at Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In fact, the cuts have generated barely a peep from border hawks, who have given the GOP a free pass even after years of campaigning for increased resources.

According to Rosemary Jenks, director of government affairs for NumbersUSA, her group is not protesting any of the reductions in spending. Nor will any Republicans be penalized in their annual grades for voting for them.

"For an administration that's decided it's not a priority, it doesn't make sense to throw money at them," Jenks told TPM in an interview before Congress agreed to a final spending deal.

The final spending cuts were actually less severe than the Republicans' initial proposal, which would have included deeper cuts to CBP's border security and technology program and eliminated money for an increase of about 1,000 border agents.

[TPM]