Speaker Hastert Praises Passage of Secure Fence Act - H.R. 6061

U.S. Newswire on Yahoo ^ | 9/14/06 | U.S. Newswire

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today issued the following statement after passage of , Secure Fence Act of 2006. The bill passed 283-138-1 with 131 Democrats voting against the measure.

"Every year, nearly one million illegal immigrants cross into America. This is a clear threat to our safety. Some of these people are coming for work, but countless others are drug dealers, gang members and some are even terrorists. That is why building this fence is common sense. And if we build the fence, it will be harder for them to come here illegally.

"It should concern the American people that 131 Democrats voted against creating this security fence along our southern border. They don't want border security; instead they would rather jeopardize our national security and put Americans at risk.

"House Republicans have already dedicated billions of dollars for border security in our appropriations bills, but it is clear that more action is necessary. Our chairmen told us their recommendations on Tuesday. We took their recommendations and didn't waste a minute. The House Republican Leadership has a border security package that we will move through the House quickly."

House Republicans are consulting with the Senate on the best ways to get these items to the President. These measures will:

-- Provide more border patrol agents

-- Strengthen security through fencing and additional infrastructure

-- Make enforcement stricter at our borders

-- Enhance state and local law enforcement authority

The time to address this border security emergency is now - before Congress leaves for the November elections.

House Republicans' "Border Security Now" September Agenda

Strengthening Security Through Fencing and Additional Infrastructure

-- Secure Fence Act: Authorizes the construction of 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the southwest border. Mandates that the Department of Homeland Security achieve operational control over the entire border through a "virtual fence" that employs cameras, ground sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Provides the necessary authority to border personnel to disable fleeing vehicles.

-- Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007: Provides $3.98 billion for the Secure Border Initiative, the president's plan to gain operational control of our borders over the next 5 years. Provides $161 million for border security technology, including aerial surveillance and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Providing More Border Patrol Agents

-- Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007: Provides $2.33 billion in funding for the United States Border Patrol, including funds for 1,200 new border patrol agents, to support a workforce of 13,580 agents. Also provides $2.65 billion for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including funding for an additional 1,212 ICE agents and officers, for a total of 11,500.

Providing Stricter Enforcement

-- Fairness in Immigration Litigation Act: Ends outdated injunctions that prevent the effective enforcement of immigration laws and has led to "catch and release" policies. Gangs, such as MS-13, have exploited these loopholes, and many criminal aliens have been released onto our streets.

-- Alien Gang Removal Act: Prohibits alien gang members from entering the U.S. and allows for detention and deportation of alien gang members already within the country.

-- Criminal Alien Removal Act: Allows for expedited removal of alien criminals who are not permanent residents. Currently, these aliens are placed in lengthy removal proceedings despite the fact that they are ineligible for relief.

-- Alien Smuggler Prosecution Act: Authorizes an increase in the number of federal prosecutors for alien smuggling cases and encourages the Attorney General to establish uniform guidelines for prosecution of smuggling offenses.

-- Border Tunnel Prevention Act: Creates criminal penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for knowingly constructing or financing the construction of unauthorized tunnels at the border to stop the possible smuggling of aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists.

-- Dangerous Alien Detention Act: Allows for the continued detention of dangerous aliens under orders of removal for more than six months if they cannot be removed within the six month timeframe. Currently the Department of Homeland Security has no choice but to release many criminal aliens back into our country when they cannot be removed in six months.

Enhancing State and Local Law Enforcement Authority

-- State and Local Law Enforcement Cooperation in the Enforcement of Immigration Law Act: Reaffirms the authority of state and local law enforcement to voluntarily investigate, identify, detain, and transfer to federal custody aliens in the United States in order to assist in the enforcement of immigration laws.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Outstanding.

[Not now, Not ever!]

Any idea where this fence would run ? From - To?

[tflabo]

Making progress? Is the GOP in DC finally getting the message? Why do I sense that the Senate will screw this up royally?

[NormsRevenge]

House vote H.R. 6061
Secure Fence Act of 2006

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll446.xml

[NormsRevenge]

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR06061:@@@D&summ2=m&

SUMMARY AS OF:
9/13/2006--Introduced.

Secure Fence Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control (as defined by this Act) over U.S. international land and maritime borders, including: (1) systematic border surveillance through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and (2) physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by United States Customs and Border Protection, such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers.

Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary to provide at least two layers of reinforced fencing, installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors extending: (1) from ten miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to ten miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry; (2) from ten miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to five miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry (with specified priority areas); (3) from five miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to ten miles east of El Paso, Texas; (4) from five miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to five miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and (5) 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry (with specified priority areas).

Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct a study and report to Congress respecting the necessity and feasibility of constructing a state-of-the-art barrier system along the U.S. northern international land and maritime border; and (2) evaluate and report to Congress respecting United States Customs and Border Protection authority to stop fleeing vehicles that enter the United States illegally, including related training, technology, and equipment reviews.

[NormsRevenge]

I haven't seen a mapped version yet for this, but I had heard about 700 miles or so, my post #6 has some general info re: locations.

[ca-dreamer74]

Oh no! The DemocRATS have discovered our ploy!!!

"This is nothing more than political gamesmanship in the run-up to the midterm elections. Sounds good. Does nothing," said Rep. Alcee Hastings D-Fla.

Except maybe that it builds 700 miles of fence!!! Sounds good does nothing was once the motto of the Democratic party and their socialize everything agenda. Of course now their foreign policy is Sounds bad does worse.

Of course, Alcee Hastings also wants to set a timetable to withdraw from California and Arizona after seeing Illegal Immigrants doing more than just cutting her lawn.

Good Job Republicans! Keep hitting those DemocRATS! Soon they'll be crying about Iraq and Bush and losing more seats in the House and the Senate!

[farlander]

Wow! Now we're talkin'.

[lesser_satan]

It sounds like a damn good start.

[Irish Eyes]

Bump for good news.. Hope that the Senate does not stop it in it's tracks.

[taxesareforever]

Why do I sense that the Senate will screw this up royally?

Because they will. They will either gut the bill or let it languish until after the November elections.

[Thunder90]

That is precisley the reason why the Republicans MUST maintain a majority in the US House. If the Dims take over, the illegals will get not only a free pass, but possible instant citizenship.

[lesser_satan]

If the senate f's this up or the President vetoes it, I'm staying home on 11-5.

[calcowgirl]

H.R.6061
SUMMARY AS OF:
9/13/2006--Introduced.

Secure Fence Act of 2006 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control (as defined by this Act) over U.S. international land and maritime borders, including: (1) systematic border surveillance through more effective use of personnel and technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras; and (2) physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by United States Customs and Border Protection, such as additional checkpoints, all weather access roads, and vehicle barriers.

Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary to provide at least two layers of reinforced fencing, installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors extending: (1) from ten miles west of the Tecate, California, port of entry to ten miles east of the Tecate, California, port of entry; (2) from ten miles west of the Calexico, California, port of entry to five miles east of the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry (with specified priority areas); (3) from five miles west of the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to ten miles east of El Paso, Texas; (4) from five miles northwest of the Del Rio, Texas, port of entry to five miles southeast of the Eagle Pass, Texas, port of entry; and (5) 15 miles northwest of the Laredo, Texas, port of entry to the Brownsville, Texas, port of entry (with specified priority areas).

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Bump for later read/reference.

[Richard-SIA]

"Make enforcement stricter at our borders"

No, make enforcement stricter THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!

The current policy that the invaders only have to make past the first 50 or 100 miles and they are "home free" with no more need to worry about being caught by anyone who will enforce our immigration laws is stupid and dangerous.

[Cold Heat]

Now all they have to do is fund it......................

This is only the authorizing legislation without going through the channels (appropriations committee) for the money.

Unlikely it will ever be, but the voters don't know that.

[NormsRevenge]

Meanwhile, at the border..

A solider of the 116th Construction Support and Equipment Company of the Utah National Guard cleans out a trench that will be filled with electrical conduit for border lighting poles that will be installed along the border wall (background) that separates the U.S. from Mexico in San Luis, Arizona June 7, 2006. The House of Representatives on Thursday authorized building a fence along portions of the border with Mexico in a vote critics said had more to do with election year politics than controlling illegal immigration. (Jeff Topping/Reuters)

[Left2Right]

I like it - a lot!