TERRELL – With recent demonstrations and growing concerns across the U.S. over illegal immigration, the Terrell Rotary Club got a special update Thursday from Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) on what Congress is doing to strengthen America’s border security. 

“There can be no homeland security without border security,” said Congressman Hensarling.  “After 9/11, we simply cannot afford to ignore who is entering the United States.  The White House, the Department of Homeland Security and Congress must do even more to prevent drug smugglers, gang members, terrorists and others from breaching the border and doing harm to Americans."

Over the course of just one year, border agents in South Texas caught 137,083 illegal aliens and arrested 2,048 smugglers.  Recently, Hensarling joined with Texas lawmakers and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at the White House to discuss improving security along Texas' 1,254-mile long border with Mexico.

“We must massively increase the number of agents patrolling the border and better utilize the most modern surveillance and detection equipment to prevent breaches of our border,” Hensarling stated.  “Furthermore, our nation must end the so-called catch and release program whereby illegal immigrants apprehended from countries other than Mexico are routinely released back on to our streets. Catch and release should be for bass, not illegal aliens.”

The Congressman went on to note the economic costs associated with illegal immigration.  “Illegal immigration places a heavy burden on government services, especially our hospitals, schools and law enforcement,” Hensarling said.  “In some hospitals, almost two-thirds of operating costs are generated by illegal aliens.  In fact, according to one report, Texans pay more than $393 million in health care-related costs for illegal immigrants.”

The Bush Administration and Congress are both working to strengthen border security and strictly enforce immigration laws.  President Bush's Fiscal Year 2007 budget calls for 1,500 new Border Patrol agents and 6,700 new detention beds.

Hensarling also noted that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act, H.R. 4437, in December.  If signed into law, the Border Protection Act would add more border patrol agents, enforce stricter screening procedures at border checkpoints, and ensure more stringent enforcement of length-of-stay guidelines. The Congressman stated the law would be a good start, but that much remains to be done.

“The United States is a nation of immigrants and should remain so. But we are also a nation of laws," Hensarling stated.  “While I am sympathetic to those who come here to work hard in order to feed their families, illegal immigration is a flagrant violation of our laws.  It threatens the Rule of Law and is patently unfair to all those who waited patiently for 5-10 years to come here the right way.  Those who entered the wrong way must be held accountable.”