EL PASO, TEXAS -- Much concern spread through the borderland Thursday since the Obama administration proposed to cut back on some areas of border security.

“I’m concerned when the federal budget doesn’t take care of El Paso,” said state Sen. Elliot Shapleigh.

President Barack Obama’s proposed homeland security budget for next year would actually be up 2 percent from this year, but the problem is most of that will be focused on revamping aviation security that border security would see a loss.

If Congress were to approve Obama's proposal, staffing would freeze and border patrol would lose 180 agents through attrition. The virtual fence would be cut about $225 million from last year and hundreds of miles of concrete-and-steel border fence would be maintained but no new barriers would go up.

“When you cut border patrol officers, you're cutting security, you're making it harder to protect this great nation and enforce immigration laws,” said Shapleigh.

Meanwhile homeland security Secretary Janet Napolitano urges security across the board will be just fine.

“She works for the president and she is going to salute and move forward,” said Rep. Silvestre Reyes.