House Passes Trio of Border Security BillsGibbons Committed to a Safer and Stronger Border
9/21/2006
WASHINGTON, DC -- Addressing the inherent need to tighten our nation’s border security laws, Congressman Jim Gibbons (R-Nev) joined in support of three major pieces of legislation that will crack down on illegal immigration.
“Politics in both houses of Congress continues to hinder our ability to pass a comprehensive immigration bill. As a result, House Republicans launched an aggressive plan that includes several pieces of legislation that address our immediate border security needs,” said Gibbons. “These bills are a viable and necessary means to begin reducing our nation’s vulnerability to illegal immigration, terrorism, and drug trafficking.”
The Community Protection Act ensures that illegal immigrants who cannot be deported will not be simply released into society. Often times, illegal immigrants who are taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cannot be deported, yet current law only allows the DHS to keep them in custody for no more than 6 months, regardless of whether or not the person committed a violent crime. Therefore, many dangerous criminals are released back into society only to be taken into custody again for a repeated offense. This legislation allows for a renewal of detention at the end of the initial 6 months.
The Immigration Law Enforcement Act includes three reforms to the current laws that govern illegal immigration. Specifically, this bill:
Reaffirms the authority of state and local law enforcement to apprehend, detain, and transfer illegal immigrants to federal authority.
Authorizes an increase in the number of attorneys able to prosecute alien smuggling cases. Due to the limited amount of available attorneys, many smugglers go free and again detained for the same offense.
Imposes “Catch and Return” instead of “Catch and Release.” Current law includes loopholes that are continuously exploited and allow for criminals to be released back into society only to continue to violate immigration laws.
The Border Tunnel Prevention Act, which Congressman Gibbons co-sponsored, implements criminal penalties of up to 20 years in prison for those who knowing construct or fund the construction of a tunnel intended for the transportation of illegal immigrants across the U.S. international border.
For more information, contact:
Melissa Subbotin
Press Secretary
Congressman Jim Gibbons
Phone: 202-225-6155
FAX: 202-225-5679
URL:
Back to Press Releases |
