Immigration

As a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus, I have an opportunity to work with my colleagues to develop a comprehensive immigration reform package. I believe in border security first to stop the flow of illegal aliens into the United States. If we don’t, our school systems, health care delivery systems and safety will continue to be compromised. The current law is not being executed efficiently. Our sheriffs, officers, and guards have too many loops to jump through to be able to do their job effectively, and it makes it much easier for the illegals to come through. For this reason, I am supporting legislation that contributes to strengthen the immigration process.

• H.R. 140 - Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011
  • This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act by clarifying that a person born in the United States gains citizenship if the parents are: a) a citizen or national of the United States, b) a lawful permanent resident alien who resides in the United States, and c) an alien performing active service in the United States Armed Forces.
• H.R. 152 - National Guard Border Enforcement Act
  • To provide for the deployment of 10,000 additional National Guard troops along the international border between the United States and Mexico in support of border control activities until the Secretary of Homeland Security certifies that the federal government has achieved operational control of the border. The bill also authorizes the Secretary to exceed the 10,000 troops upon the request of a state that shares a portion of the U.S. - Mexico border if, despite deployment of the first additional 10,000 troops, operation control of the border has not been achieved.  
• H.R.  997 - English Language Unity Act of 2011
  • This bill makes English the official language of the United States.
• H.R. 1505 - National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act
  • This legislation prohibits the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from taking action on public lands which impede border security on such lands.
• H.R. 2000 - Secure America Through Enforcement and Verification Act of 2011 ("SAVE Act")
  • This bill increases border patrol agents by 5,000, utilizes new technology and infrastructure to secure the border, and expands anti-smuggling enforcement programs through a pilot program using aerial surveillance, satellite, and equipment sharing between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. In addition to expanding the E-Verify  program and making it mandatory for all employers, the bill also expedites the processing and removal of illegal aliens by expanding detention capacity and increasing the number of immigration judges.
• H.R. 2064
  • This bill allows employers to use E-Verify during the hiring process rather than having to wait until after an employee is hired to later learn that they are illegal and unable to work.
• H.R. 2124 - Southwest Cross-border Violence Recognition Act of 2011
  • This bill would define cross-border (spillover) violence and mandate its use in evaluating border security. It will also require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report back to Congress on this new border security metric. By providing a definition that will accurately capture the actual violence spilling over from Mexico, the federal government will have to finally admit that we have a problem and will have to finally take action to secure our border, protect American lives, and restore the once flourishing border security.
• H.R. 2463 Border Security Technology Innovation Act of 2012
  • I have introduced this bill again this year, and it passed by the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee of the Chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on July 13. This bill focuses on key long-term technologies that could substantially improve the security of our nation's borders, including research into the routine operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for border and maritime security missions, research into tunnel detection technologies, and research to counter the use of counterfeit documentation for cargo and persons. The bill also directs the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a study into the use of biometric technology at the border. Finally, the bill includes provisions to extend a scientific advisory board that expired in 2008, requests input from the Government Accountability Office on long-term research trends in this area, and requires technical projects at DHS to include clear cost and operational requirements.
• H.R. 2497 - Hinder the Administration's Legalization Temptation Act (Halt)
  • This bill will simply bar President Obama from exercising discretion in enforcing immigration laws.
• H.R. 2885 - Legal Workforce Act
  • This bill would make E-Verify mandatory for all employers
• H.R. 3842
  • This bill prohibits Federal funding for lawsuits seeking to invalidate specified State laws that support the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.

It is important that we recognize the significant contributions legal immigrants have made to the United States; however, I do not favor granting citizenship to someone for breaking an immigration law.