Return to Press Office

10/26/2006   For Immediate Release Print this page

Capito Applauds Signing of Secure Fence Act
Congresswoman notes progress made in fight to stop illegal immigration, says more needs to be done

WASHINGTON - Rep. Shelley Moore Capito today issued the following statement after President Bush signed the Secure Fence Act into law.  The legislation, approved by the House of Representatives last month with the strong support of Rep. Capito, authorizes the construction of 700 miles of border fencing along our southwest border.

"Securing our border and stemming the tide of illegal immigration is vital to our country's national and economic security.  Over the past year, I have been proud to support multiple measures to help achieve these goals - whether it is border fencing, more border patrol agents or stiffening penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.  It is important that Congress builds on today's achievement and continues to work to gain control of our borders and stop illegal immigration."

Key measures that Rep. Capito has recently supported:

  Secure Fence Act (Signed into law today) - Legislation authorizes construction of 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the southwest border.

 FY 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Report (Signed into law) - Legislation funds critical measures designed to strengthen America's border security, providing $21.3 billion for border protection and immigration enforcement.  It also provides:

o        $2.77 billion for border patrol, adding 1,500 new Border Patrol agents, for a total of       14,800;
o        $1.2 billion for border fencing, vehicle barriers, technology and infrastructure; and
o        $4.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

 Border Tunnel Prevention Act (Signed Into law) - Legislation makes it a crime to knowingly construct, finance, or allow the construction of an unauthorized tunnel across a U.S. international border.  Individuals caught using such a tunnel to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists face penalties of more than 20 years in jail

 Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (passed by the House by vote of 239-182) - Legislation combats hiring of illegal immigrants by increasing fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants while providing employers with a reliable method of determining whether employees are eligible to work

###