September 22, 2006

GRAVES SUPPORTS PASSAGE OF KEY BORDER SECURITY BILLS

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) this week voted for three major pieces of legislation that will help increase border security and crack down on illegal immigration. The three bills, which all passed the U.S. House of Representatives, were developed after Members of Congress held more than 20 field hearings in the months of July and August to examine the issue of border security and identify ways to improve our nation’s current immigration system. The three bills passed by the House were the Community Protection Act, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act, and the Border Tunnel Prevention Act.

“These three bills can make an immediate impact in securing our borders and securing our nation,” said Congressman Graves. “Through increased enforcement efforts along our borders, we have seen a sizeable decrease in the number of illegal immigrants crossing our borders over the past several months, but there is more work to be done. Too many illegal immigrants are able to cross our borders and too many criminals are able to exploit our immigration laws. By passing these bills, Congress is taking the next important step in ensuring that our nation and its borders are secure.”

The three bills are:

H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act: The Community Protection Act ensures that dangerous illegal immigrants, who cannot be deported, cannot likewise be released into society. Many illegal immigrants being detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are unable to be deported for a variety of reasons. Yet under current law, DHS cannot detain these illegal immigrants for more than six months, even if the individual has committed a violent crime or represents a threat to national security. As a result, hundreds of criminals are released back onto our streets. This legislation allows such illegal immigrants to be detained for periods of six months at a time, and then allows for the period of detention to be renewed.

The Community Protection Act also toughens laws against alien gang members. Under the bill, an illegal immigrant who is found to be part of a criminal street gang would be subject to detention, deportation, and would be ineligible for receiving asylum or temporary protected status.

H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act: This bill reaffirms the authority of state and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws; and authorizes an increase in the number of attorneys to prosecute alien smuggling cases, and expresses Congress’ sense that the attorney general should establish uniform guidelines for the prosecution of alien smugglers.

The Immigration Law Enforcement Act also imposes a “catch & return” policy, instead of “catch & release.” It helps close loopholes where illegal immigrants have been released into the general population while they await deportation proceedings. Many criminal gangs have exploited these loopholes, which have hurt DHS’s ability to enforce immigration laws.

H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act: The Border Tunnel Prevention Act enacts criminal penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for individuals who knowingly construct or finance the construction of an unauthorized tunnel across a U.S. international border. In addition, individuals who recklessly permit the construction of such a tunnel on their own property are subject to imprisonment of up to 10 years. Individuals caught using such a tunnel to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists are subject to twice the penalty that would have otherwise been imposed.