Strengthening Border Security

“America is digging a hole for itself with failed immigration policies. My bill stops the digging and starts securing our borders to end the flood of illegal immigration.”—Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson

The Situation

Ben Nelson is leading the way toward strengthening border security and providing the resources for effective enforcement. Our country's porous southwest border must be secured.

Thousands of people illegally cross into the U.S. each year and Nebraskans and the American public are demanding action to end illegal immigation, protect America from terrorists, restore control of our borders, and guarantee punishment to those who smuggle, traffic, harbor, or employ illegal immigrants.

The Start to a Solution

Nelson has authored The Border Security and Interior Enforcement Improvement Act with his colleagues, Senators Sessions and Coburn, to put an end to America's failed immigration policies.

Unlike other proposed legislation that's too broad to be effective, Nelson's bill aims to solve the border security problem where it starts--at the border.

Border Enforcement

  • -- Increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 3,000 personnel each year until 2011.
    -- Invests in border security technology to enhance surveillance along the border and supplement border patrols.
    -- Adds 5,000 immigration enforcement agents dedicated to fraud detection.
    -- Promote DHS coordination with the Department of Defense on use of border surveillance technology.
    -- Extend the southwest border fence, creating a 100 yard border zone controlled by the Department of Homeland Security.
    -- Gives Secretary of Homeland Security the Authority to design and build and authorizes funding for the funding of a two-layer reinforced border fence stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

Law Enforcement

-- Increase detention space by 50% for a combined capacity of 10,000 new beds.
-- Add investigative immigration personnel and immigration lawyers and judges.
-- Facilitate cooperation and training between DHS and local law enforcement officers.

Workplace Enforcement

-- Require all employers to verify that their workers are authorized to work in the U.S.
-- Eliminate tax breaks currently going to employers of illegal workers.

The Border Security and Interior Enforcement Act is part of Ben Nelson's plan to increase security, protect rural states, and fortify our armed services.