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Immigration plan would reimburse police
Senate panel begins action on controversial border legislation


03:27 PM CST on Thursday, March 9, 2006
By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT / The Dallas Morning News


WASHINGTON — Police departments would be able to get federal reimbursement for transporting illegal immigrants to the border and learning to enforce federal immigration law under measures approved Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The actions marked the opening salvo to shape a 304-page bill due to be considered by the full Senate this month that would overhaul the nation’s immigration laws and increase enforcement at the Southwest border.

The committee got off to a hesitant start, with too few senators present to vote on more than 100 amendments introduced to date. With pressure to complete the legislation by March 27, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter demanded that senators set a faster pace.

They’re sure to wade into controversy as they continue today.

On the table for votes: whether to make it a crime to be illegally present in the U.S., and a plan to erect fences and vehicle barriers in highly trafficked urban areas in Arizona. Also, the senators will consider a proposal that has caused tremendous consternation in religious and humanitarian circles: whether to make it unlawful to render aid to illegal immigrants.

Though the Senate proposal is less harsh than a House-approved version, Democrats complained that it could ensnare doctors, social workers and clergy members who work with illegal immigrants.

“We’re going to end up criminalizing conduct that most of us would not consider criminal,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

Senators skirmished Wednesday over the question of building a border fence. A tough immigration enforcement bill approved by the House in December would fence 700 miles of the nearly 2,000-mile Southwest border.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., proposed a similar plan Wednesday, saying the $2.3 billion proposal would help lawmakers restore their “credibility” with a public tired of Congress’ inaction on illegal immigration.

But Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said such a fence would represent a “19th century solution to a 21st century problem” and instead touted a Homeland Security Department plan to build a “virtual” fence with lights, cameras, motion sensors and aerial surveillance.

“If you put a 700-mile fence along a 2,000-mile border, people are going to go around it,” Mr. Cornyn said.

Mr. Sessions pulled back his plan in favor of one by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., to add fencing in a few Arizona border cities. “I do not propose that we fence the entire border,” Mr. Kyl stressed. “That is not a practical solution.”

Mr. Cornyn managed to gain approval for two of his amendments, one permitting reimbursement for training and equipment for police departments to enforce immigration law.

He said many departments, including Texas sheriffs, are “eager” to do border enforcement but fear being stuck with the tab.

His second proposal is designed to crack down on China, Cuba, Vietnam and other countries that refuse to accept the return of their citizens ordered deported from the U.S. China won’t permit the repatriation of 39,000 Chinese, he said.

Under his proposal, the State Department could deny visas, for example to a high-profile visitor such as an ambassador, to pressure the country to accept return of its citizens.


E-mail mmittelstadt@dallasnews.com