Controlled borders are essential to national security and orderly immigration policy. An effective immigration process has many societal benefits, but it cannot happen with chaos at the border. I have supported successful efforts in the House of Representatives to provide meaningful border security and penalize unscrupulous employers who create an illicit demand for illegal labor. Such efforts have included the authorization of more border patrol agents, increased technology to strengthen border resources, and border fencing between the U.S. and Mexico.
This year I cosponsored the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act (H.R. 4088), a bipartisan approach to further secure our borders and strengthen immigration enforcement. The SAVE Act increases barrier resources and the number of border patrol agents, strengthens cooperative enforcement efforts in the nation’s interior, and requires businesses to verify their employees are here legally.
I also cosponsored legislative measures to prevent states from issuing driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. Providing persons who have come here illegally with the benefits of citizenship undermines the rule of law and the notion of civic responsibility.
Many persons, however, seek to come to America legally, and we can provide help in difficult cases. For example, my office learned that many Iraqi translators who had aided America’s military in Iraq were being denied applications to immigrate to America. These people face grave danger in their own country by helping America, and they need our help to have a safe, peaceful future. I introduced legislation earlier in the year to increase the number of special visas for Iraqi translators. My House colleagues passed the legislation, the President signed it, and it became law.