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Congressman Duncan Applauds Passage of Bills to Help Secure Nation’s Borders

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 21, 2006

 

Washington, D.C. – Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) voted for three major pieces of legislation that will help increase border security and crack down on illegal immigration.  The three bills, the Community Protection Act of 2006, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006, and the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006, all passed the House of Representatives this afternoon. They were developed after several House Committees held more than 20 field hearings in the months of July and August to examine the issue of border security and identify ways to fix our Nation’s broken immigration system. 

 

“These bills further express the House’s firm stance against illegal immigration and the need to secure our Nation’s borders,” said Duncan.  “Too many illegal immigrants are able to cross our borders and stress our infrastructure and too many criminals are able to exploit our immigration laws.” 

 

“I cannot blame people who want to come to this Country, but they simply must do so legally.  By passing these bills, Congress is taking the next important step to ensure that our Nation and its borders are secure.”

 

Today the House of Representatives approved the following three border security initiatives:

  • The Community Protection Act (H.R. 6094), introduced by Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), focuses on ensuring the safety of the American people by detaining dangerous illegal immigrants, removing illegal immigrant gang members, and removing other criminal illegal immigrants.
  • The Immigration Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 6095), introduced by Chairman Sensenbrenner, provides the Department of Homeland Security with additional tools to effectively enforce our immigration laws, including ending catch & release, prosecuting smuggling offenses, and making sure that state & local law enforcement agencies can help enforce our laws.
  • The Border Tunnel Prevention Act (HR 4830), introduced by Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) and Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), establishes penalties for individuals who construct border tunnels or finance their construction.

Last week, the House approved the Secure Fence Act (H.R. 6061), introduced by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King (R-NY), which would strengthen operational control of all borders and ports through additional physical barriers and fencing and greater use of state-of-the-art technology and surveillance along the southwest border.