Byrne Votes to Secure Border, Halt Obama Amnesty Program

Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) tonight supported legislation that would boost border security, expedite deportations, and prohibit the expansion of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

Specifically, the border security legislation (H.R. 5230) would:

• Boost the National Guard presence on the southern border;
• Change the Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act of 2008 to make it easier to deport illegal immigrants;
• Increase funding for the Department of Homeland Security to boost border security;
• Prohibit federal agencies from denying access or activities to border patrol agents on federal park or federal monument land;
• Accelerate judicial proceedings for immigrants; and
• Strengthen laws prohibiting criminals with serious drug-related convictions from applying for asylum.

The bill would not add to the deficit since all of the funds in the bill are fully offset through cuts and recessions in current funds appropriated to various federal agencies. H.R. 5230 passed by a vote of 223 to 189.

Byrne also voted in support of H.R. 5272 which prevents the President from taking any executive action to authorize new deferred action on illegal aliens and prohibits the President from taking any executive action to grant new work authorizations to illegal aliens. The bill explicitly prohibits any blanket amnesty. The bill passed by a vote of 216 to 192.

Byrne said: “The crisis at our southern border must be addressed, but the answer isn’t just to give President Obama a blank check. The border security bill passed in the House today would  pave the way for real border security that is so desperately needed. The bill also allows for the more swift, yet still compassionate, return of the unaccompanied minors at our southern border.

“There is no doubt President Obama’s continued threat of executive action has only exacerbated the problem.  By prohibiting the expansion of President Obama’s DACA amnesty program, this bill would send a clear message that his unilateral executive action must stop. The language in H.R. 5272 is very clear in that no further forms of blanket amnesty will be allowed. Until President Obama puts his pen down and hangs up the phone to engage in good-faith negotiations with Congress, I will be hard pressed to support any immigration legislation.

“At the request of myself and some of my Alabama colleagues, I am pleased that House leadership included provisions to expedite the deportation process and strengthen the language prohibiting further executive action. With these changes made, I feel confident that this bill is the right step forward.

“By not acting on this bill before the August District Work Period, the House would be playing right into President Obama’s hands and further encourage his use of executive action. The House has now acted to address the border crisis while the Senate has skipped town. I implore the Senate to return to Washington right away to pass these bills and make positive steps toward real border security.”