Fortenberry Calls for Border Enforcement
Bipartisan Group Reviews Border Activity

LINCOLN, NE - Congressman Jeff Fortenberry joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives that traveled to Laredo, Texas, to review the challenges of enforcement and security along our Mexican border. He issued the following statement:

Uncontrolled borders and illegal entry are serious threats to our national security and good immigration policy.

The immigration debate is complex and multilayered, and Laredo is at the confluence of those factors. Laredo is one of the borders toughest spots. Law enforcement faces daily challenges of illegal entry, human smuggling, and drug trafficking.

I believe there are four points of public policy reform to address illegal immigration. First, we need to secure the borders with increased manpower and surveillance technology. Second, we need to decrease the demand for labor by enacting harsher penalties on employers who exploit the poor and vulnerable. Third, we must streamline legal immigration policies. Lastly, we need to pursue foreign policy initiatives that help our neighbors to the South with political and economic reform that create hope and opportunity within those countries.

America has been a just and generous nation, opening her arms to persons particularly those facing economic or political persecutionwho wish to come here and contribute to community life. This should remain the hallmark of our immigration policy.

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