Jefferson Post
Today, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) cosponsored and voted for three bills that crack down on illegal immigration and strengthen border security. These bills expedite removal of alien criminals, empower state and local law officers to help enforcement of our immigration laws, and increase the penalties for constructing and financing tunnels across our borders. Upon passage of these three bills, Congresswoman Foxx released the following statement:
“As a tireless advocate for securing our borders now and further protecting our citizens, I am pleased to see the House of Representatives acting on the issues most important to Americans and to the safety of our nation. These three bills will help secure our borders through a multi faceted approach and, when combined, will make it increasingly difficult to cross the border illegally as well as increase penalties on illegal aliens who commit crimes in addition to illegally entering our country.
Upon enactment, these three bills will have a timely and direct impact on securing our borders and securing our nation. Time and again, I have reiterated the most important role of the federal government is to defend our nation, and through the passage of these bills, Republicans in the House of Representatives are taking important steps to fulfill that vital role.”
THE THREE BILLS PASSED TODAY:
1.H.R. 6094, The Community Protection Act of 2006
•Allows the detainment time to be extended for dangerous aliens, who are dangerous to the community or are threats to national security.
•Provides for the expedited removal of criminal aliens (those who have criminal records.)
•Detaining and deporting alien gang members. This toughens the laws pertaining to aliens proven to be involved with criminal gangs and prevents future asylum or temporary protected status.
2.H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006
•Reaffirms the authority of state and local law enforcement to investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain, or transfer to Federal custody.
•Authorizes an increase in the number of attorneys to prosecute alien smuggling cases, and expresses Congress’ sense that the Attorney General should establish uniform guidelines for the prosecution of alien smugglers.
•Ends the “Catch & Release” policy for illegal aliens apprehended along our borders and replaces it with a “Catch & Return” policy.
3.H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006
•Criminalizes the construction and financing of border tunnels.
•Increases criminal penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for individuals who construct or finance a tunnel across a U.S. international border.
