September 21, 2006

CONTACT:
Christina Tuff
(202) 225-2211
christina.tuff@mail.house.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House passed three crucial pieces of border security legislation: H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act of 2006, H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006, and H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Protection Act of 2006.  These bills will help increase border security and crack down on illegal immigration. 

“During my time in the House, I have tirelessly advocated for the end of the “Catch and Release” program, for increased prosecution of alien smugglers and for State and local law enforcement to be given the tools necessary to enforce immigration laws,” Sullivan said.  “I am pleased that the House has passed, with my support, legislation which will accomplish these things.”

H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act of 2006 ensures that illegal aliens who can not be deported, likewise cannot be released into society.  Under current laws, DHS can not hold illegal aliens for more than six months, even if the individual has committed a violent crime or represents a threat to national security.  This means that dangerous criminal illegal aliens, who have already served time for their crimes in their home country and cannot be deported back to their home country, are released onto American streets after being held for six months.  H.R. 6094 allows criminal illegal aliens to be detained for six months at a time, after which their case is reviewed.  This legislation will also help to expedite the removal of criminal illegal aliens and alien gang members.  “We know that there are many criminal illegal aliens threatening our communities.  In July, a raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rounded up 46 criminal illegal aliens in Tulsa alone.  This important legislation helps keep criminal illegal aliens off our streets.”

The Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006, H.R. 6095, gives State and local law enforcement the ability to voluntarily investigate, apprehend, arrest and detain illegal aliens.  This key piece of legislation will give local law enforcement the tools to help Federal officials enforce our nation’s immigration laws in their communities. “Giving State and local law enforcement the tools necessary to combat illegal immigration is one of the critical steps toward curbing the immigration crisis in our country and will go a long way to secure our nation’s interior.”  H.R. 6095 also increases the prosecution of alien smugglers.  Every year, 800,000 – 900,000 people are illegally smuggled across borders worldwide, resulting in a $9.5 billion industry.  Thousands of these smugglings take place on the U.S. border with Mexico, many including women and children.  The Immigration Law Enforcement Act will allow for the prosecution of more alien smugglers by increasing the number of U.S. attorneys available to pursue these cases.  Currently, there are no uniform guidelines for the prosecution of alien smuggling offenses.  “It is important to put a stop to criminal smuggling across our borders.  This is a dangerous practice, which can lead to the sexual trafficking of minors or illegal drugs being brought into our country and remains a threat to our communities.”

In addition, H.R. 6095 will also close the loopholes in U.S. laws that have led to DHS’s “Catch and Release” program.  “Catch and Release” is a program in which an illegal alien who is caught in the U.S. is given a future court date and released into the U.S., instead of being detained and deported back to their home country.  Many of those with court dates fail to show up and, rather than returning to their home country, remain in the U.S. illegally.  Alien criminal gangs have exploited these loopholes, which this legislation would help close.  “Ending the “Catch and Release” program is critical to eliminating the millions of illegal aliens who reside, undetected, in the U.S.  This provision is important because once illegal aliens cross our border and settle within our nation’s interior, they currently face little or no risk of deportation or even apprehension by federal authorities.” 

Prior to the passage of H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006, there was no criminal penalty for the construction or financing of a border tunnel.  This legislation enacts criminal penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for individuals who construct or finance the construction of an unauthorized tunnel across a U.S. international border.  In addition, individuals caught using a tunnel to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists into the U.S. are subject to twice the penalty.  “It is ridiculous that there is currently no penalty for the construction or financing of a border tunnel.  It is widely known that these tunnels play a dramatic role in drug smuggling and the rate of illegal aliens coming into the U.S., which is why this legislation is so important."

“Too many illegal aliens are able to cross our borders and too many criminals are able to exploit our immigration laws,” Sullivan said.  “By passing these bills, Congress is taking the next important step in ensuring that our nation and its borders are secure.”

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