U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) joined a majority of the House of Representatives Tuesday in passing legislation to boost our Nation’s Homeland Security, including a bill to expand a Coast Guard program that collects biometric information to prevent criminal illegal aliens from entering the country.

“Our borders with Canada and Mexico are not the only entrance points for illegals seeking to cross into our country; our international waterways are prime targets for illegal immigration and deserve attention,” said Rahall.  “I supported legislation today that will enable the Coast Guard to investigate the use of biometric screening to shore up security along Nation’s coastal waterways and prevent illegal immigration.”

H.R. 2490 would create a pilot program enabling the U.S. Coast Guard, the lead federal agency for maritime Homeland Security, to collect biometric information on illegal aliens and screen them against existing federal databases of those wanted for immigration violations and other transgressions of U.S. laws.

Each year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that more than 10,000 unknown migrants attempt to cross in small boats from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, alone, representing almost 50 percent of maritime alien migrant apprehensions.  Most interdicted migrants currently are returned to their home nation because the United States lacks the ability to verify their identity, posing a potentially serious risk to national security.

Rahall joined his colleagues in passing a series of Homeland Security bills -- H.R. 5170, the Department of Homeland Security Component Privacy Officer Act, H.R. 5983, the Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act, H.R. 4806, the Reducing Over-Classification Act, H.R. 3815, Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act, and H.R. 6098, the Personnel Reimbursement for Intelligence Cooperation and Enhancement of Homeland Security Act -- that will increase national security by ensuring the open flow of information between DHS agencies and the public . 

“Interagency cooperation and public communication are essential to our strong national security,” said Rahall.  “These bills will enhance the safety and security of America by ensuring that our Homeland Security forces can do their jobs without being hindered by red tape.”