Issues

Enforcement of Existing Immigration Law

Recent congressional action expanded the ranks of border patrol agents to 15,000, and by the end of 2008, the number will grow to 18,000 agents.

    Priority is given to catching illegal border crossers and returning them to their home countries, locating and deporting absconders (illegal immigrants who have been ordered deported but ignored the order and blended into our society), and illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes.  Because of the limited detention bed space, it is not feasible for every illegal immigrant to be incarcerated while they are processed for deportation. 

    In 2007, DHS removed more than 276,500 illegal aliens from the U.S., which is a new record, arrested more than 3,300 illegal alien gang members, secured more than $30 million in fines against employers, made 863 criminal arrests and 4,077 administrative arrests in worksite enforcement actions.