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Over the past few years, Congress has debated various proposals on how to reform our immigration system. As a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus since arriving in Congress, I believe it is important that the first step in any immigration proposal is to provide for a secure and impenetrable border. Our border is our first line of defense. Even though most illegal immigrants cross into our country to seek a better life, in a post-September 11 world we can no longer distinguish between those who come here for economic opportunity and those who come here to do us harm. By increasing the technological and human resources at all our borders, we will be on a path to more safe and secure communities.
Controlling illegal immigration does not just stop at our borders. Another way I believe we can reform our immigration system is to provide our state and local law enforcement agencies the necessary tools to keep our streets and neighborhoods free of criminal illegal immigrants. State and local law enforcement do have the inherent legal authority to arrest illegal aliens and transfer them to Federal custody. However, our state and local departments are starved for financial support and personnel.
That is why I am proud to report that on May 2, 2007, I introduced H.R. 2109, the Empowering Our Local Communities Act of 2007. This bill: (1) requires a mandatory 5-40 year prison sentence for any illegal alien who commits manslaughter while driving under the influence, (2) makes it a criminal misdemeanor to be illegally present in the U.S., (3) allows for the continuation and expansion of the institutional removal program, which is a program that helps identify removable criminal aliens in Federal and state correctional facilities so these aliens are not released into the community upon completion of their sentences, and (4) authorizes funding for a program, often referred to as the “287(g) program,” which provides training to state and local law enforcement to serve in a limited Federal immigration enforcement capacity.
While there is no silver bullet to solve our nation’s illegal immigration crisis, I am confident we will be one step closer to protecting our children and our communities if we untie the hands of those who serve and protect us on a daily basis.
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