Congressman Poe's Record on
Immigration and Border Security
Members of the Texas Border Sheriff's Association and Congressman Poe
I do not support illegal immigration or amnesty for illegal immigrants already in this country, period. I support immigration, but people must do it legally. Amnesty rewards illegal conduct and only increases the number of illegal immigrants who try to enter America as we have seen in the previous amnesties in 1986 and 1996. As a former judge for over 22 years, I believe very strongly in the respect for the rule of law. I never let anyone get away with breaking the law and immigration laws should be no different. We must vigorously enforce the laws we already have on the books and make some of them stronger. No protest or political statement will change my respect for our nation’s laws and our sovereignty. In fact, recent demonstrations have just made me and many Americans more resolute in our convictions.

Congressman Poe visiting the U.S.-Mexico Border
We must not forget how the tragic events of September 11th demonstrated the need for heightened security. The 9/11 Commission Report stated that terrorists seek to exploit our vulnerabilities. Our border remains one of those serious vulnerabilities. I have had the opportunity on two recent occasions to travel to the U.S. – Mexico border in Texas to witness the situation first-hand. Our border, sadly, remains wide open. While the Border Patrol apprehends a million illegal crossers each year, half a million slip through their reach; among them are people seeking to work illegally, human smugglers, drug smugglers, and even possible terrorists. In 2004, the Border Patrol apprehended 650 people from countries that are state sponsors of terrorism. How many were Border Patrol not able to apprehend? How do we know they didn’t bring weapons of mass destruction along with them? These are serious questions that need serious answers.

Solving this crisis will not be easy as there are many who want amnesty and support policies that promote more illegal immigration and lawlessness. These are unacceptable in a post 9/11 world. I believe we can start by enforcing the law and showing we are serious about it. We also need to eliminate policies in this country that encourage and ignore illegal immigration; including easy access to jobs with little enforcement of employers who hire illegals, free healthcare, free education, birthright citizenship, policies that don’t promote assimilation, and the inability of local law enforcement to assist federal immigration authorities.

Legislation Supported by Congressman Poe

H.R.4437 - I am a cosponsor and voted in support of the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. This bill is a strong border security bill that makes it a felony to be illegally in the country, forces employers to use an employment verification system to ensure that current and future employees are authorized to work, and provides more resources for law enforcement on the border. The U.S. Senate is currently debating a separate bill that includes a guest worker program for the estimated 11 million illegals in the U.S. along with the House border security provisions. I believe this is the wrong approach. We must first secure the border and fix the root of the problem before addressing broader immigration reform.
Status: Passed House of Representatives

H.R.698 - The Citizenship Reform Act of 2005 amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny citizenship at birth to children born in the United States of parents who are not citizens or permanent resident aliens.
Status: Referred to Committee

H.R.3137 - The Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act, which would remove current barriers that prevent local law enforcement officers from detaining illegal immigrants during the discharge of their duties.
Status: Referred to Committee

H.R.3150 - The Criminal Alien Accountability Act would impose mandatory prison sentences on illegal immigrants who do not adhere to deportation orders. It would also impose the same sentence on any human smuggler, or "coyote," who aids the illegal crossing.
Status: Referred to Committee

H.R.4083 - The Border Security Improvement Act calls for the construction of a security fence along the entire southern border of the United States.
Status: Referred to Committee

Press Releases

May 22, 2006 - Washington, D.C. - Congressman Ted Poe sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate reports of US Border Patrol sharing information of the whereabouts of civilian volunteer groups on the border with the Mexican Government. To read the letter, see the full press release.

May 15, 2006 - Washington, D.C. - Congressman Ted Poe issued the following statements in regards to President Bush’s Immigration Speech: “Using the National Guard as a secondary line of defense in assisting the Border Patrol along our southern borders is a good start in securing our borders. We use the military to protect other country’s borders, we certainly should use it to protect our own. The government’s first priority is to ensure the safety of its citizens and this should include the illegal entry into our country..." -Full Statement-

Speeches

March 16, 2006 - "Gunfire in the fourth largest city in America occurred this week in urban Houston. A blazing gun battle ensued between rival human smugglers, or coyotes, as we call them, fighting over turf. The outlaws were fighting over the precious cargo of illegal aliens. After the bullets stopped, 21 people were arrested." -Read Full Remarks-

March 15, 2006 - "Madam Speaker, with the overwhelming problem of illegals in this country, some in this Congress want to make it worse. They think that an amnesty worker program is the answer to this problem, and tomorrow the Senate Judiciary Committee will be meeting to consider an amnesty worker program as a solution to the problem. I could not disagree more." -Read Full Remarks-

March 8, 2006 - "Mr. Speaker, our porous southwestern border is getting worse by the day and the number of illegal entries into the United States continues to grow at a ridiculously rapid rate.Just yesterday, a study released by the Pew Hispanic Center said that the population of illegals is growing by 500,000 a year. This is because of the lack of border security in this country. Our government's failure to slow this illegal action is fueling financial crisis to American taxpayers, especially those in the 24 counties along the 2,000-mile border between the United States and Mexico." -Read Full Remarks-

See More Speeches on Border Security and Immigration

Votes

Bill Number
Sponsored/Co-Sponsored
Status of Bill
How Poe Voted
H.R.4437
Co-Sponsored
Passed House of Reps.
Yes

Congressional Offices
Washington, D.C.
202.225.6565
Toll Free - 866.425.6565
Beaumont, TX
409.212.1997
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Humble, TX
281.446.0242
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