Proposal on Immigration Enforcement Oversight Defeated in Homeland Spending Debate
By Joanna Anderson | CQ Today Online News | June 7, 2012

House lawmakers kicked off debate Wednesday on a $46 billion Homeland Security fiscal 2013 spending measure, with final passage expected later this week.

Throughout the evening, members dispensed with two dozen amendments on a wide variety of issues.

Lawmakers rejected, 154-260, an amendment from Wisconsin Democrat Gwen Moore to give an additional $3 million to the Homeland Security Secretary’s account, to be used for the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

Moore said she is troubled by a pair of programs that include state and local authorities in immigration enforcement efforts, especially if adequate funding is not provided to protect civil rights.

The bill would require that at least $68 million be used for the 287(g) program, under which state and local law enforcement agencies are delegated authority for immigration enforcement activities within their jurisdictions. That funding level represents a $5 million boost over fiscal 2012.

Moore said that language, coupled with the administration’s continued rollout of the Secure Communities program, would shift federal immigration authority into the hands of local police. Secure Communities checks the fingerprints of people arrested by local police against a Homeland Security database to determine their legal status.

Moore argued the funds in her proposal could be used to prevent racial profiling in Secure Communities, as well as provide training, inform the public about recourses to take if their rights are violated, and help with the investigation of alleged abuses.

But Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert» B. «Aderholt» , R-Ala., said her proposal would wrongly empower Washington bureaucrats to look over the shoulders of those working in the field.

In a Statement of Administration Policy released Wednesday, the White House voiced its opposition to the 287(g) fund increase and called Secure Communities “more consistent, efficient, and cost-effective in identifying and removing criminal and other priority aliens.”

The statement threatened to veto the bill, reiterating the administration’s blanket objection to all House spending bills because of the chamber’s rejection of the funding level agreed to in last summer’s Budget Control law (PL 112-25).

The House adopted, 302-113, a Ted Poe, R-Texas, amendment to boost border security infrastructure funds by $10 million for the expansion of cell phone service in border areas, which would be offset by a reduction from the Office of the Undersecretary for Management account.

Amendment cosponsor Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said the proposal would establish a more reliable link between citizens and law enforcement.

Lawmakers also adopted, 230-186, a Rob Bishop, R-Utah, amendment to cut $3 million from border security funds in order to provide a $624,000 increase to air and marine programs for law enforcement and emergency humanitarian efforts.

Bishop said the proposal would move funds away from what he views as unnecessary environmental mitigation efforts along the border in order to boost funds for border security air support.