Washington, Oct 26 -  The Chairman of the International Relations Committee on Terrorism and Nonproliferation Ed Royce (Ca) today issued the following statement after President George W. Bush signed the Secure Fence Act of 2006 into law.

"As an original co sponsor of the House passed bill and the border fence amendment, I am delighted that the President has signed this bill into law. It is a victory for common sense and a safer America."

"The fence will be a tremendous force multiplier for our Border Patrol. It will expand our enforcement capacity and allow us to redeploy agents to areas at risk. This law puts a fence where it is so badly needed, on our vulnerable South West border. It will help us stop smuggling, human trafficking, gang activity and of course illegal immigration. It will allow the Border Patrol to focus its resources and better protect our border against those who would do us harm."

“Border security is national security. Border policing constitutes the first line of defense in protecting the American people from terrorists and the threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction. I held field hearings in San Diego and Laredo, Texas in July. I received disturbing testimony from local sheriffs, border patrol officers and USCIS officials. It was alarmingly clear that we needed to take urgent action."

"The Republican Congress has responded to the American people's demand for a secure border by increasing the physical barriers and infrastructure along the border and by providing state of the art monitoring technology."

"The American people have demanded border security and the Republican Congress have delivered. Conversely, the Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi wants to throw open our borders and provide a massive blanket amnesty. The Democratic leader, who has never visited the border, wants to provide the full raft of Social Security and other benefits such as education and health care to illegal immigrants."

"I fervently hope that Democrats will stop playing politics with national security and offer some solutions to the border security crisis in America."

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INTERESTING FACTS

* 164 House Democrats voted against H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act, which was passed by the House last December.

* 131 House Democrats voted against H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, an emergency measure that would mandate operational control of all borders and ports through enhanced Border Patrol operations, physical barriers, and state-of-the-art technology along the southwest border, including reinforced fencing.

* 134 House Democrats voted against H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006, a bill that would reaffirm the authority of State and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws, authorize an increase in methods to prosecute alien smugglers, and end the policy of “catch and release” in the United States.

* 91 House Democrats voted against H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act, which would authorize the expedited removal of alien criminals, the detention of these dangerous criminals who for various reasons might not be able to be immediately deported, and tougher laws against illegal immigrants found to be members of street gangs.

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