Oct 24th 2013: Three Ways McCaul-Jackson Lee Border Bill Weakens Current Law (October 2013)

During his press briefing on Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner said that he's "hopeful" the House will move on immigration legislation before the end of the year. With House Republicans sticking to the mantra of border security before amnesty, it's likely the chamber will soon act on H.R.1417, the McCaul-Jackson Lee "border security" bill. Our legislative analyst Grant Newman has dissected the legislation, and he reports that the bill won't secure the border and even weakens existing law.

1) Secures only part of the border - The Secure Fence Act of 2006 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to "take all actions the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate to achieve and maintain operational control over the entire international land and maritime borders of the United States." The McCaul-Jackson Lee legislation, however, only requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit "a comprehensive strategy for gaining and maintaining situational awareness and operational control of high traffic areas" within 2 years and "operational control along the southwest border" within 5 years.

So, instead of requiring DHS to secure the entire border, now the agency simply has to submit a plan to Congress detailing how it would secure portions of the border.

2) Redefines "operational control" - The Secure Fence Act of 2006 defined the term "operational control" as prevention of ALL unlawful entries into the United States. The McCaul-Jackson Lee bill redefines the term to achieving a 90% effectiveness rate to be determined by DHS based on its own estimates of those who evade detection and apprehension.

You could probably let in all the Dreamers surging across the border and still say you are stopping 90%.

Apparently Sheila Jackson Lee wants a secure border.

http://www.teaparty.org/sheila-jackson-lee-selfish-america-deny-illegals-amnesty-work-permits-68265/

When you call your House Rep. Monday to say “fire Boehner, also say NO on H.R.1417, the McCaul-Jackson Lee “border security” bill. The bill won’t secure the border and even weakens existing law.

2 posted on 01/03/2015 5:19:08 PM PST by RicocheT (Only a few prefer liberty--the majority seek nothing more than fair masters. Sallust, Histories)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.