Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed three pieces of legislation to strengthen border security and improve the enforcement of immigration laws. U.S. Rep. John Campbell (R-Irvine), a supporter and cosponsor of the proposals, made the following statement:

“Under current law, we are not adequately equipped to deal with many of the dangers and criminal elements associated with illegal immigration. Today, we passed legislation specifically targeted at addressing many of these shortfalls.

“The bills we passed today would help end the ‘catch and release’ policy as well as make it will easier to deport aliens who are criminals or violent gang members. Additionally, we reaffirmed the authority given to local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.

“Further, the bills we passed to criminalize the construction of border tunnels and increase penalties for alien smuggling will help secure our borders and prevent illegal crossings.

“Today was another productive day in the effort to move border security and immigration enforcement legislation through Congress. It is now time for the Senate to put aside their plans to give amnesty to illegal aliens and consider these common sense proposals to improve border security and enforcement."

The House passed the following bills:

H.R. 4830 “The Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006”

• Criminalizes the construction and financing of border tunnels
  
  

• Reaffirms the authority of state and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws


• Increases the prosecution of alien smugglers or coyotes


• Imposes a “catch and return” policy instead of “catch and release”