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| Wilson Focuses on Operational Control of the U.S. Border |
March 19, 2008 |
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Guard should stay on border until thousands of new border patrol agents are deployed
Albuquerque, N.M. – Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM) today says she has introduced two pieces of legislation in the U.S. House to tighten border security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Wilson recently introduced legislation that would keep National Guard troops along the Southwest border until newly hired border patrol agents are deployed. She has also co-sponsored legislation that is a 3-part plan to reduce illegal immigration, with emphasis on border security, employer verification, and interior enforcement.
“We should make it harder for people to cross the border illegally, easier for people to get caught, and easier for people to be sent back immediately,” says Rep. Wilson. “That’s why I’m currently working on two approaches. Congress recently approved 10,000 new border patrol agents and they’re coming on-line soon. But in the meantime, we need to keep the National Guard on the border through Operation Jump Start. Second, I am a co-sponsor of Rep. Heath Schuler’s SAVE Act, which will beef up enforcement activities both on the border and throughout the country.”
Wilson’s announcement came today in Albuquerque as she gathered with Sandia National Labs managers, and representatives of New Mexico high-tech companies—all of who work on technology solutions for border security and enforcement. Wilson was briefed by Sandia National Labs on technology work they are doing for Homeland Security along the border region.
Temporarily Keeping the National Guard on the Border, H.R. 5562
Wilson’s National Guard legislation, H.R. 5562, will continue the Operation Jump Start program at its 2006 strength of 6,000 Guardsmen deployed along the entire Southwest border to help conduct border security activities like surveillance and vehicle barrier construction. Started as a temporary program, the administration has taken action to phase out the program in July 2008. Though Wilson also wants the program to be temporary, she does not want a gap between the time National Guard troops are removed and new border patrol agents are trained and deployed.
“Since the National Guard troops have been deployed to the border, there has been a significant decrease in gang violence, human trafficking, and illegal border crossings,” said Wilson. “I visited the troops on the border in August. These troops are seeing success and we should not remove them from border security activities until the job is done.”
Wilson is a strong proponent of temporarily keeping National Guard troops on the border and last year wrote a letter to the President urging him to keep the troops in place after cuts were proposed.
“We should make it harder for people to cross the border illegally, easier for people to get caught and easier for people to be sent back immediately. The only way to do this is with a strong National Guard presence on our borders until enough Border Patrol Agents are hired and deployed.”
Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act, H.R. 4088
Rep. Wilson also announced today that she has co-sponsored the so-called SAVE Act, a 3-part plan to drastically reduce illegal immigration with a strict emphasis on border security, employer verification, and interior enforcement.
The SAVE Act addresses border security by increasing manpower and making needed technological and infrastructure improvements on America’s northern and southern borders, including 8,000 new Border Patrol Agents and providing the infrastructure they need to be effective.
The bill expands the E-Verify program to provide all employers with the tools they need to ensure that their employees are here legally. The E-Verify program is a simple, effective, and free program that allows employers to efficiently and quickly ensure that the people they hire are legally allowed to work in the U.S. The program will be phased-in over four years, beginning with the federal government, federal contractors, and employers with over 250 employees. Smaller businesses would begin using the system in a graduated manner.
The SAVE Act also provides the tools, resources and infrastructure necessary to enforce existing federal laws and penalize offenders. It increases the investigative abilities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement with more agents and more training. Additionally, it provides assistance for state and local law enforcement.
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