Giffords’ border tunnels bill signed


By Jonathon Shacat
WICK NEWS SERVICE



BISBEE — President Bush recently signed into law a provision offered by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to ensure the federal government can prosecute smugglers who tunnel under the Arizona-Mexico border.

Under the new law, people who knowingly construct or finance the construction of a tunnel crossing the international border between the United States and another country shall be fined and imprisoned for up to 20 years.

There are additional criminal penalties for using a tunnel to smuggle illegal immigrants, goods, controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction or terrorists. “The congresswoman is very pleased that this is now the law of the land and she hopes this will go a long way towards strengthening border security,â€