U.S. House of Representative seal U.S. Representative Allyson Y. Schwartz
Representing the 13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2006
CONTACT:  Rachel Magnuson, 202-225-6111
 

Schwartz: Republicans Have Failed Once Again To Protect Our Borders

 
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz today demanded that Congress get tough on securing America’s borders. Schwartz also strongly criticized the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress for failing to secure our borders.

 

“Congressional Republicans may talk tough on securing America’s borders, but the reality is that time and time again Republicans have voted against tough border measures, such as increasing the number of Border Patrol agents. In just the past five years, Congressional Republicans have voted ten times against adding increased resources to protect our borders,” said Congresswoman Schwartz.

 

“The Republican Congress is not doing enough to strengthen America’s borders. If Republicans were serious about protecting the borders, they would support a tough plan which would increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 12,000; raise the number of new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents by 8,000; and create an additional 100,000 detention beds to detain illegal immigrants at the borders – and then send them back to their home country.” said Schwartz.

 

Despite their tough-on-illegal immigration rhetoric, Republicans have repeatedly rejected plans to secure America’s borders.

 

The Reality of Republicans and Border Security

 

  • The Republican Congress rejected a plan which would add 6,600 Border Patrol agents, 14,000 detention beds and 2,700 Immigration Enforcement agents along our borders.

 

  • During the past five years House Republicans have voted ten times against adding resources to strengthen border security.

 

  • Rather than crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants, Republicans have looked the other way. Between 1999 and 2004, worksite immigration enforcement operations against companies were scaled back 99 percent by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, which later was merged into the Department of Homeland Security. In 1999, the United States initiated fines to more than 400 companies. In 2004, it issued fine notices to only three companies.

 

Schwartz voted today against a fiscally irresponsible plan, H.R. 6061, proposed by the Republicans which would do little to address border security.

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