Rep. Burton Calls On President Obama To Protect American Citizens By Securing The Border

Letter

Today, Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN-05) joined 17 other Members of Congress in calling on President Obama to take prompt and necessary steps to stem the tide of violence on our southern border:

"The preamble to the United States Constitution clearly establishes that one of the fundamental purposes of the Federal government is to "provide for the common defense.' The growing epidemic of violence along our southwest border clearly shows that we are falling down on that job. Assaults against Border Patrol agents have increased 46 percent from 752 incidents in 2007 to 1,097 incidents in 2008. Since January of 2008 nearly 5,000 homicides have occurred in Juarez, Mexico and most recently Robert Krentz, a longtime Arizona rancher, was found shot dead and slumped over in his all-terrain vehicle with the engine still running. The people of Arizona grew tired of waiting for the Federal government to act and they took matters into their own hands. Its time for Washington to wake up and defend the people of the United States by doing whatever it takes to secure our southern border."

"In addition to stepping up border security, we need to enact tough immigration reform that firmly rejects the concept of amnesty. We tried amnesty during the 1980s when we passed the Simpson-Mazzoli Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 when we only had an estimated 3 million illegal aliens in this country. Today we have an estimated 12 to 18 million illegal aliens living in America; proving that amnesty as a cure for illegal immigration is a complete failure. Amnesty does not work. This is why I have introduced the "No Sanctuary for Illegals Act" (H.R. 5002) which is a consolidated and update of two bills he introduced during the110th Congress - the "No Sanctuary for Illegals Act" (H.R. 3549) and the "Border Security and Elimination of Sanctuary for Illegal Aliens Act of 2007" (H.R. 3638). We are a Nation of immigrants, but we are also a Nation of laws. We are also a Nation susceptible to terrorist attacks. It is for these reasons that we need strong immigration reform and my bill embodies just that. It calls for stronger border security; and no amnesty for illegal immigrants. Period!"

The following is the letter sent to President Obama:

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

As you know, violence in the vicinity of the U.S.-Mexico border continues to increase at an alarming rate. We believe that this violence represents a serious threat to the national security of the United States as well as a serious threat to U.S. citizens that live along the 1,969 mile long border. We strongly believe that it is imperative for your Administration to promptly take the necessary steps to prevent this violence.

We urge the Administration to take action to address this growing national security threat on our southern border. Without swift and decisive action, it is our fear that this violence will only increase in severity and scope. We urge you to deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, as has been requested by a number of border state Governors and Members of Congress. We ask that any National Guard troops that are deployed should be provided with very clear guidance of proper rules of engagement and should be armed and allowed to defend themselves if fired upon or attacked.

As you know, the level of violence along the border continues to increase. Since January 2008, nearly 5,000 homicides have been committed in Juarez, Mexico, making it one of the most violent cities in the world. In 2009 alone, 79 U.S. citizens were killed in Juarez, Mexico. On March 13th of this year, Lesley Enriquez, a U.S. Consulate employee, and her husband Arthur Redelf, a ten year veteran of the El Paso Police Department, were killed when Mexican drug gang members fired a number of rounds at their vehicle. That same day, Jorge Alberto Salcido, the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee, was killed when cartel members shot at his car at a separate location.

On March 27, 2010, Robert Krentz, a longtime Arizona rancher, was found shot dead and slumped over in his all-terrain vehicle with the engine still running. Following the murder of Mr. Krentz, his assailant was tracked to the U.S.- Mexico border and there is evidence that he crossed the border into Mexico. The day before the killing, Mr. Krentz's brother had called the Border Patrol to report a caravan of illegal immigrants who were ultimately caught carrying 280 pounds of marijuana.

Additionally, our Border Patrol and law enforcement agents along the border are facing a growing threat to their safety. Assaults against Border Patrol agents increased 46 percent from 752 incidents in 2007 to 1,097 incidents in 2008. Recent analysis from the El Paso Sector Border Intelligence Center warns that retaliatory actions against law enforcement officers could occur in the border region.

At the same time, we urge the Administration to provide the Border Patrol with the support it needs, both in terms of tangible resources such as state-of-the-art technology and equipment, as well as ensuring that agents are not disciplined or prosecuted for performing their duties or defending themselves against attacks.

We stand ready to work together with you and your Administration on these important issues to ensure the safety and security of all Americans in the border region and throughout our country.

Background:

On April 14, 2010 Rep. Burton introduced H.R. 5002 the "No Sanctuary for Illegals Act" to end the cycle of illegal immigration in the United States and withdraw Federal funds from States and political subdivisions of States that interfere with the enforcement of Federal immigration law.

Cosponsored: Over 30 pieces of legislation dealing with immigration issues in the 111th Congress alone.

March 2010 -- Joined the "Reclaim American Jobs" caucus which raises public awareness of the connection between illegal immigration and unemployment. It also pressures the Administration to vigorously enforce the laws against the employment of illegal immigrants, works to implement legislation that will protect American jobs from the impact of illegal immigration and work to defeat legislation that will put American jobs at risk from the impact of illegal immigration.

September 2009 - Sent a letter to Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price and Ranking Member Mike Rogers of the Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security to request that four-immigration related provisions contained in the Senate-passed version of the FY2010 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill be retained in the conference report to H.R. 2892

April 2009 - Sent a letter to Secretary Janet Napolitano of the Department of Homeland Security regarding the disturbing fact that the United States does not inform foreign governments of the full criminal record of an alien being deported for a criminal offense, something that was brought to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere during a previous hearing on "Deportees in Latin America and the Caribbean."

March 2009 - Sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressing that her statement that immigration law enforcement is "un-American" was "grossly inappropriate" and urging her to apologize to the men and women of the Department of the Homeland Security.

March 2009 - Sent a letter to President Obama expressing "our concerns regarding the completion of security fencing and accompanying infrastructure along the US-Mexico border." The letter also stressed that reports of escalating border violence and increased narcotics production in Mexico underscore the significant challenges we face on our Southern land border, and the signatories urged the President "to expeditiously complete existing fence construction projects required by law and consider building additional infrastructure wherever needed…" Such a provision is also included in my "No Sanctuary for Illegals Act," H.R.5002.

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