Illegal immigration is a big problem for taxpayers and our national security. We need a comprehensive solution to the problem of illegal immigration that starts with securing our borders. We have to give our border patrol agents the tools and infrastructure necessary to protect our country. I support a border fence and more INS agents to secure our nation.

I am an original cosponsor of comprehensive legislation to reform our country’s immigration policies called H.R. 3308, the SAVE Act. This legislation would increase the number of border patrol agents, require individuals entering our country to be checked against terrorist watch lists, make the basic employment eligibility verification program permanent, mandate use of the E-verify system, establishes electronic birth certificate and death notification systems, and many other positive changes.

I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 878, the Nuclear Family Priority Act, which seeks to end chain migration as the U.S. immigration policy, and replace it with a nuclear family-based priority system. Today’s policy is flawed because it ensures that once one family member becomes a citizen, aunts, uncles, nephews and cousins all are entitled to priority status for immigration. This legislation would eliminate the ability for extended family to move to the front of the line.

I am also strongly opposed to providing federal benefits to illegal aliens and believe safeguards need to be put in place to verify the citizenship of anyone applying. For this reason, I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 3174, the Photo Identification Security Act, which would make the only acceptable form of identification to qualify for these benefits a Social Security card accompanied with a photo identification that was issued by a state or federal government, a driver’s license issued by a state in compliance with the Real ID Act, a passport issued by the United States, or a photo identification issued by the Department of Homeland Security.