Press Releases - Murphy Backs Border Enforcement Legislation Trifecta

Murphy Backs Border Enforcement Legislation Trifecta

Washington, Sep 21 - Continuing its aggressive efforts to secure our nation's borders, the House of Representatives today passed a trio of bills increasing enforcement and preventing the entry of illegal aliens. The three bills passed by the House were the Community Protection Act, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act, and the Border Tunnel Prevention Act.

"Combined with the building of a fence and additional border patrol agents, the legislation passed today will have an immediate impact in decrease the number of illegal aliens, drug smugglers, and human traffickers trying to cross our borders," said Congressman Tim Murphy (PA-18), who supported the legislation. "It will now be easier for law enforcement to arrest, detain, and deport illegal aliens, especially those who are extremely dangerous to our communities. Our government is sending a clear signal to anyone thinking about trying to cross into the country illegally that they will be caught and sent home."

Under current law, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must release any illegal aliens they are unable to deport within six months regardless if they are a threat to society or national security. The Community Protection Act allows such illegal aliens to be detained for six month periods of time which can then be renewed with judicial review. Deportation will also be expedited for criminal aliens and any illegal found to be a gang member will no longer be eligible for asylum or temporary protection status.

The Immigration Law Enforcement Act allows state and local law enforcement to voluntarily investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain, and transfer to federal custody illegal immigrants. It also increases the number of attorneys to prosecute alien smuggling cases, and encourages the attorney general should establish uniform guidelines for the prosecution of alien smugglers. It also ends the practice of "catch and release," where illegal aliens are released from custody while awaiting deportation hearings.

The Border Tunnel Prevention Act calls for 20 years imprisonment for people who knowingly construct or finance the construction of an unauthorized tunnel across a U.S. international border. Individuals who recklessly permit the construction of a tunnel on their property are subject to imprisonment of up to 10 years. Individuals caught using such a tunnel to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists can receive up to twice the penalty that would have otherwise been imposed.

"The House is taking significant action to improve enforcement along the border," concluded Murphy, who last month toured the border in Laredo, Texas. "We need to continue to provide our law enforcement agents with proper tools and legal backing so they do not have to constantly catch the same illegal aliens trying to cross the border over and over."

http://murphy.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=50640