Dennis Ross

By KEVIN DERBY
January 18, 2016 - 10:45am

U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., part of the congressional leadership as House senior deputy majority whip, wants the federal government to finish the 700 mile fence on the Mexican border by the end of the year.

On Friday, Ross showcased his “Finish the Fence Act” which would have the U.S. Homeland Security secretary finish the fence by December 31.

“Since I was first elected, securing our border has been a top priority,” Ross said. “This week, I introduced H.R. 4391 because finishing the construction of the fence along our southwest border is the first incremental step in securing our border, providing for our national security, and halting the massive influx of immigrants entering our country illegally."

Ross insisted his bill would have an impact on Florida even though the fence is located across the country.

“Alarmingly, Florida is one of only six states that account for 60 percent of illegal immigrants in the U.S.,” Ross noted before turning back to the fence. “In 2006, Congress mandated a 700-mile fence be built along our southwest border. Ten years later, and with no end date in sight, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has yet to finish the fence, and our border remains detrimentally unsecured. There is now no excuse for the delay because our Republican-led Congress recently provided DHS with $11 billion to finish construction and better secure our borders.”

Ross jabbed President Barack Obama‘s executive actions on immigration and insisted finishing the fence would help national security.

“Although the president has checked-out and continues to act well beyond his authority, particularly when it comes to violating our immigration laws and protecting our nation, I refuse to put American lives at risk and let our legal system be ignored and trampled upon,” Ross said. “This is not only an issue of illegal immigrants crossing our porous border; it is also an issue of national security. ISIS is looking for every possible opportunity and weakness within our security systems to infiltrate and radicalize individuals in joining its jihadist regimes to kill Americans, including recruiting and training those illegally crossing our border and entering our country.”

Ross has yet to find any co-sponsors for his bill which is now before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee.

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/sto...mexican-border