Herger Lauds House Passage of Measure Cracking Down on Illegal Immigration
DECEMBER 16, 2005
Herger Lauds House Passage of Measure Cracking Down on Illegal Immigration
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Congressman Wally Herger (CA-02) today voted for H.R. 4437, the "Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005," which the House passed by a vote of 239 to 182. The measure includes a number of provisions to help prevent illegal immigration and bolster border security. Herger had the following reaction regarding House passage of this bill:
"The persistent flow of illegal immigrants into our country represents a serious national security risk and a disregard for the rule of law," Herger stated. "I strongly believe we must stiffen our laws to prevent immigrants from coming here illegally, and to help ensure that illegal immigrants engaged in criminal conduct are deported from our nation."
Among other provisions, H.R. 4437 would:
Require the Department of Homeland Security to construct five security fences along nearly seven hundred miles of the U.S.-Mexico border
Clarify federal law by explicitly stating that state and local law enforcement have the inherent authority to identify, arrest, and transfer to federal custody illegal immigrants
Establish state-of-the-art surveillance technology, including cameras, radar, satellite, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, to ensure one hundred percent coverage of our borders
Authorize 1,000 full time port of entry inspectors and the training of 1,500 K-9 units
End the "catch and release policy" so that many "other than Mexicans" caught illegally entering the U.S. are not released, but instead are placed in mandatory detention and removed in an expedited process
Herger continued, "This legislation takes several important steps toward strengthening security at our borders, and reestablishing respect for our laws by holding violators accountable, including human traffickers, and gang members illegally in America who threaten our communities. Although I believe that Congress must also address the critical need for workers in agriculture, among other industries, this measure brings us closer to having a well-structured immigration policy," concluded Herger.
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http://www.house.gov/herger/images/pr12-16-5Immigration.pdf