Border Security Bill Passes U.S. House

Border Security Bill Passes U.S. House

January 9, 2006

As lawmakers wrapped up the first session of the 109th Congress, which ended just before Christmas, the U.S. House passed a comprehensive border security and immigration reform bill. While I would like to have seen more done, the new legislation represents progress in the effort to address our country's growing illegal immigration problem.

On December 16, the U.S. House voted 239 to 182 to pass the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (HR 4437). The legislation, which still must be voted on in the U.S. Senate, targets illegal immigration on several fronts. Principally, it beefs up surveillance of the Mexican-American border and it imposes stiff legal penalties for the hiring of illegals. In effect, it seeks to restrict the inflow of illegals into America while also eliminating their primary incentive for coming here (possible employment).

It has been estimated that more persons enter the United States illegally than legally each year. Most of the illegal crossings occur along the 1,900 mile border with Mexico, which is largely sparsely-patrolled rural desert area. It is obvious that our current level of border monitoring is not getting the job done. Despite recent increases in the number of U.S. Border Patrol agents, the tide of illegals entering the United States from Mexico has not slowed. These illegals are not all prospective job-seekers from Mexico either. They include other Latin Americans and even Middle Easterners. The border is therefore an attractive way for terrorists to enter our country.

The new border security and immigration bill requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to work together to develop a joint plan to provide the U.S. Border Patrol with military support and surveillance of the border area. New physical barriers would be erected along the border, bolstered by widespread state-of-the-art surveillance technology using unmanned aerial vehicles, cameras, radar, and satellites.

Some 115,000 illegal aliens from countries other than Mexico have been stopped by the Border Patrol only to be set free due to a lack of detention space. Under the new legislation, the controversial practice of "catch and release" of illegals would be terminated effective October 1, 2006. It would require illegals apprehended at U.S. borders to remain in custody until they are removed from the country. Additionally, the new border and immigration bill would promote greater cooperation between local law enforcement in the border areas and Federal officials, reimbursing local officials for illegal alien detention costs.

To stop the flow of illegals securing jobs here, the new legislation creates a government "hotline" for employers to verify the legal status of applicants by checking Social Security Administration and Homeland Security immigration records. Those found to be willfully employing illegals would face penalties ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for each illegal hired.

The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Act does not do everything a truly tough border and immigration bill should, but it is definitely a step forward. To address other problem areas, I have cosponsored other legislation which seeks to construct an effective barrier along the full length of the US-Mexico border, as well as ending the granting of automatic U.S. citizenship to babies born in America to illegal alien parents. Congress will likely take further action on border security and immigration later this year.

http://wwwc.house.gov/everett/news/columns/col_010906.asp