Securing America’s Borders

NRO ^ | March 17, 2006 | Senator Bill Frist

[neverdem]

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March 17, 2006,

1:16 a.m.

Securing America’s Borders

It’s a national-security issue.

By Senator Bill Frist

America needs secure borders. Right now, we don't have them. Every day thousands of people violate our frontiers. We don't know their identities and, quite often, we can't stop them. As a nation of immigrants who honor the rule of law, we must secure our borders before we can reform our immigration policies.

That's why I introduced the Securing America's Borders Act Thursday night. The bill will take our first step towards a safer and more secure border. This new law will add resources to border protection; give our immigration-enforcement officials new legal tools; invest in barriers; and make it easier for employers ensure that they hire only citizens and legal residents. In short, it will make border security a key component of our national-security plans.

Enhanced border protection starts with additional people and equipment along our frontiers. While the Senate last year led an effort add new border-patrol agents to the President's budget, a single action can't solve a longstanding agent shortage. Over the next six years all told, my bill will add nearly 15,000 additional border protection professionals to augment the 20,000 Customs and Border Protection agents already on the job. To make sure that all CBP officers benefit from the best available technology, furthermore, my bill provides for new investments in aerial vehicles, cameras, and sensors. To give CBP's work purpose, it will also establish a tough, thoughtful, and comprehensive national border-security strategy.

So that DHS officials can catch those who violate our borders, my bill will also enhance collection of biometric data about border crossers while creating tough new penalties for human smugglers, people who forge border-crossing documents, and those who involve themselves in sham marriages. Finally, terrorists and members of dangerous gangs will face expedited removal from the United States.

Prevention also matters. We can nip security challenges at the bud and save lives if we prevent people from breaking our immigration laws in the first place. Each year, many people die trying to cross our border. I've already asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the deaths along the border but I don't believe we can wait for study results. Thus, my bill will also begin the process of building a 1,951-mile long virtual barrier across every inch of our border with Mexico. The new barrier will combine walls and fences in high-traffic areas with sensors to let CBP see and hear those who make a run for it in low traffic areas. Together, these measures should make the border safer and more secure.

Enforcing immigration laws with regard to those who enter the country, however, will only do so much to enhance our national security. Most of the people enter America illegally, after all, come here to work. Nearly everyone agrees that employers should have some responsibility for making sure their employees have legal clearance to take and keep their jobs. Right now, even the most well-intentioned employers lack a quick, efficient, foolproof way to verify the immigration status of the people they hire. Thus, my bill will expand an existing pilot program into a full-fledged electronic employer-verification database to help employers and workers alike.

While these proposals provide a good starting point, we still need to do more. Among other things, the full Senate will need to address ways we can balance security interests with our economy's labor needs and the role National Guard units might play in border enforcement. In the long term, our government needs to work on policies that encourage democracy and prosperity abroad which will also address our immigration crisis by reducing the number of people who feel that coming to the United States is their only option.

We are a nation of immigrants and that heritage remains strong in our hearts. Every immigration- and border-related policy the Senate approves must contribute to our country's security. Only a focus on security that emphasizes the rule of law will make our nation safer for all those who live here and who come here.

— Bill Frist is the U.S. Senate Majority Leader.

	http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/frist200603170116.asp

[Marine Inspector]

Catch and release and employer sanctions are two different sets of laws.

I'm speaking of employer sanction laws.

[eskimo]

I tried to send an email to Frist expressing my displeasure. The system wouldn't accept it...

I'm not surprised at all at that. There is something really wrong when they duck for cover that quickly.

[no-to-illegals]

Two separate sets of laws, neither being enforced, tells me everything I need to know. Feel good measure are what they are, Feel Good Measures. This is the type of law enforcement given to illegals, Feel Good Measures. I know politicians aren't serious, for if politicians were serious there wouldn't be 20 million plus illegals in this nation. Another billion dollars isn't going to make it all go away. Only enforcement of the law will. This is simple common sense. But I'm only one American, with an opinion, please lobby for the electronic program all you wish. I'm not ignorant enough to believe an electronic program is going to force the laws of this nation concerning illegals to be enforced, but please continue another billion or ten billion dollars to see nothing done is exactly what this country needs.

[jwh_Denver]

How about machine guns that shoot to warn and if the warning is not heeded shoot to kill? With the Mexican government giving directions to Mexicans of how to get into our country I consider this as an Act of War.

[Kozak]

maybe if we added a few less "virtual" deterrents to crossing the border as well...

[William Terrell]

What we have here is not a lack of laws, but a lack of enforcement. Adding a laser scope, a 60 round magazine and buying a hundred thousand new rounds is ludicrous if your trigger's missing and your chamber and barrel are poured.

[eskimo]

With the Mexican government giving directions to Mexicans of how to get into our country I consider this as an Act of War.

I think most Americans do also; but, that means their so called leaders are guilty of dereliction of duty and they can't handle that so they ignore reality and find a comfortable fantasy in which to wallow.

[Czar]

"...I have Kerry and Kennedy,with Barney Frank as my "Congressperson".

So, a lying poseur, an unindicted sniveling coward guilty of intentional manslaughter and Broke Back Barney...

You really are blessed.

Reassuring, though, to know the voters of Massachusetts have such high standards. Ours in California are only slightly, but not that much, better.

We may need to consider installing a better class of crooks in Washington...

[bcsco]

"There is something really wrong when they duck for cover that quickly."

I'm not sure how quick it is. It's institutional; trying to minimize the amount of mail from other than their constituents. To me, however, that's a problem that goes with the office of Senate Majority Leader. That position IMHO implies access to everyone.

Also, when your representatives are socialists that really limits your communications even further.

[B4Ranch]

Vote them all OUT! Let's clean House from top to bottom.

[B4Ranch]

I love the way you bring the law into play when it is the lack of law enforcement being the true problem.

[CowboyJay]

"Being from Illinois that means Obama and Durbin."

One never knows what the outcome will be. Conservatism is about process.

Might not get them to vote the right way, but it might make them think twice about sacking good legislation before it hits the floor, or voting for amnesty.

[CowboyJay]

"The reason existing law is not enforced, is because it's broken and unenforceable."

The reason the law is unenforceable is that our borders are unsecure, and law enforcement agents are being actively discouraged from enforcing it.

Build a complete physical barrier, and enforce the law. Then, and only then, will the problem get better.

[jec41]

I love the way you bring the law into play when it is the lack of law enforcement being the true problem.

I didn't bring the law into play. Just who is responsible for law enforcement? He said Bush should send the military in. He would be impeached immediately. There are bills in congress to deal with the border. Get on your congressman. Bush has offered two plans, they were rejected. He can't do anything more without congress or military law. If you think its a matter of law enforcement get on the judges or the border control. Or if you don't know how things work stand in one spot and wail Bush. But even that won't do you any good, Congress controls the purse.

[CowboyJay]

PS - Thank you for your service to our country! ;)

[B4Ranch]

"Bush has offered two plans, they were rejected. "

The two plans Bush offered was a joke. A disgusting joke. The last thing he wanted to do was to fund law enforcement to secure our borders. Thank him for the diseases that are making children sick. Thank him for the diseases that are reappearing in America, the ones we had wiped out. Thank him for the criminals who are being arrested by ICE Agents.

You are the one who doesn't know hwo things work.

[bcsco]

"Might not get them to vote the right way, but it might make them think twice about sacking good legislation before it hits the floor, or voting for amnesty.

The two I have are a lost cause. They're straight Illinois Democrat politics. They're not even worth having a dialog with.

[Marine Inspector]

Like the last guy I responded too, border law and interior enforcement laws are two different animals.

I'm speaking of the interior enforcement laws.

[ImpotentRage]

That would be the best solution. We take in FAR too many as it is - rather indiscriminately, I might add. A moritorium on ANY and ALL immigration for an extended period of time would allow us to get a handle on the mess we have now. (Yeah! Who am I kidding?)

[Marine Inspector]

Your welcome. Thank you for your support!