E-newsletter for Monday, September 25, 2006

E-newsletter for Monday, September 25, 2006

Dear Friends,

Last week, the House passed, and I voted for, three important border security bills that will further help strengthen our borders and keep this country safe.

Over the past ten years, U.S. officials have discovered numerous underground tunnels running underneath the U.S.-Mexico border used to illegally smuggle people, drugs and possibly weapons. The tunnels, some of which are very well constructed, pose a serious national security threat to this country. The first bill we passed, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act, makes constructing one of these tunnels a criminal offense. It also sets a penalty of up to 10 years for anyone who permits the construction or use of such a tunnel under their land.

The House also passed a bill, the Community Protection Act, that will ensure dangerous illegal immigrants who are apprehended and cannot be immediately deported not be released into society. Last December, the House passed a Border Security bill that would help end an ineffective practice I've told you about before, called "catch and release." Under this practice, law enforcement officials apprehend immigrants who crossed the border illegally, give them a notice to appear in court and then release them into U.S. society shortly thereafter. The Administration and Congress are working to end the practice of catch and release for good.

The last bill we passed, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act, increases the number of attorneys able to prosecute alien smugglers and sends a message to individual states that they should and must enforce their immigration laws.

All three bills passed the House by a large majority. I think these bills are overdue and will further help us get control of our borders.

Sincerely,

Kay Granger

http://kaygranger.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=288