Thread: IMMIGRATION: Rep. Hunter introduces border bill

IMMIGRATION: Rep. Hunter introduces border bill
Legislation would build more fences, increase internal enforcement
By EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer | Thursday, April 23, 2009 7:05 PM PDT ∞

(7) Comments A group of Republican lawmakers introduced a bill in Congress on Thursday they say would strengthen border security and increase penalties for gun smuggling.

The group, led by Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, R-El Cajon, and including Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, would mandate that 350 miles of fence be built along the border with Mexico, require employers to verify a worker's legal status and deny federal funds to local governments that provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants.

"We need to get serious about securing our borders once and for all," Hunter said. "This cannot be accomplished with infrastructure, technology or manpower alone. It will require a combination of these resources, as well as better coordination between our federal agencies and stronger enforcement of existing immigration laws."

Immigration has long been a hot-button issue in the region. Hunter's district stretches just north of the U.S.-Mexico border in East County and Bilbray, a former mayor of the border city of Imperial Beach, has made immigration enforcement a hallmark of his election campaigns.

Under the Bush administration, Congress approved building 700 miles of fence, but only half was completed. Hunter's bill would require that the other 350 miles be completed within one year.

In San Diego, the Department of Homeland Security is nearing completion on a double-layered border fence between the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and the ocean, including the controversial sections at Smuggler's Gulch and Friendship Park.

The legislation has little chance of moving forward, said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, a group that favors comprehensive immigration reform, including legalizing some of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the country.

"I think what Congressman Hunter is offering is his perspective and it is part of a diminishing minority perspective," Noorani said.

Having captured the White House and enlarged their majority in both houses of Congress, Democrats control the debate on immigration reform. The party's leaders, including President Barack Obama, say they favor a comprehensive approach that includes national security and legalizing illegal immigrants.

In December, before he took office, Obama said he wanted to evaluate border security operations before he considers whether to finish building the fence under his administration.

Hunter said he proposed the bill because he feels it is what is needed, not because it is popular.

"I don't know what the (bill's) chances are," he said. "What we are trying to do is what is right."

Bilbray said he also favors dealing with border security and internal controls on illegal immigration, such as employee verification.

"In order to help families and individuals become legal U.S. citizens, we have to address the problems created by our currently inadequate immigration system," Bilbray said. "We need to step up internal enforcement on employers by using the E-Verify program, while at the same time address our border security."

To increase security, the bill would break down barriers between federal agencies and increase penalties for certain crimes, such as weapons smuggling, Hunter said.

For example, only a limited number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are allowed by the Drug Enforcement Agency to investigate criminal drug cases, Hunter said. The bill would give the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, the authority to investigate drug cases at the border.

Other provisions of the bill include:

-- Increasing the minimum mandatory sentence for weapons smuggling to 15 years.

-- Requiring state and local law enforcement to notify immigration authorities when illegal immigrants are arrested.

-- Denying reimbursement of State Criminal Alien Assistance Program funds if local governments prohibit their law enforcement agencies from collecting information about people's immigration status.

The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program helps reimburse local governments for the costs of incarcerating criminal illegal immigrants. California gets about $150 million from the $400 million a year program.

Opponents of the bill say linking local law enforcement and immigration enforcement is not a good idea for public safety. They say illegal immigrants would be deterred from reporting crimes if they believed police would ask them their legal status.

"If police agencies are tasked with the responsibility of enforcing immigration, the trust will be eroded and the community will be afraid, because they will be asked their immigration status," Sylvia Aguilar said in a phone interview. She is a deputy with the El Paso Sheriff's Department and a member of the pro-immigrant Border and Immigration Task Force.

The bill will first go to the House Homeland Security and Judiciary committees.

Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.

www.northcountytimes.com

I-9s of immigrants have NOT been Verified since 1986 What a LOOPHOLE for - governments (federal, state, and local), schools (public and colleges), employers /agencies (unemployment offices and business owners), landlords (capital builders), police and sheriff offices (lack of enforcement), and illegal immigrants (just want to take American jobs).

No wonder 9-11-01 happened! America is a Loophole Country, NOW

Why didn't our elected officials correct this problem in 1986?

That's definitely Duncan Hunter's son. Like father, like son!

Wish I knew what the bill number is.

The are using the new I-9s now. Thank goodness. http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/I9_qa_12dec08.pdf

Dixie

No wonder a 1 million illegal immigrant have left America.

Oh my! Great News in the April of 2009!

But is the government E-Verifying these I-9s finally? "NO"

I called Hunters office....has not been assigned a bill # yet!!
This is from Hunters website on the bill.



Hunter Introduces Border Security Legislation
Washington DC -- Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA) introduced the Border Sovereignty and Protection Act today in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation comprehensively addresses many of the enforcement challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border through the construction of additional infrastructure, interagency cooperation and stronger penalties for weapons smuggling. The legislation also sets guidelines for the expedited removal of undocumented and criminal aliens, denies State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) reimbursement for sanctuary cities and makes E-Verify mandatory.

"With border violence at record levels and Mexico's drug cartels growing in size and influence, we need to get serious about securing our borders once and for all," said Congressman Hunter. "This cannot be accomplished with infrastructure, technology or manpower alone. It will require a combination of these resources, as well as better coordination between our federal agencies and stronger enforcement of existing immigration laws.

"This legislation strengthens security along the U.S.-Mexico border through the construction of much needed infrastructure and authorizes more special agents to investigate and make arrests for cross-border criminal drug activity. The legislation also targets weapons smugglers by implementing a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence for firearms smuggling.

"Contrary to the President's recently revealed Southwest Border Initiative, we must stay focused on closing the smuggling corridors exploited by Mexico's drug cartels and other criminal aliens on a daily basis. While the Obama Administration is focused on information and technology sharing with Mexico, as well as using the situation on the border to wrongly reinstate restrictions on firearms, communities and law enforcement on both sides of the border remain under constant threat. The only way to effectively mitigate this threat is to secure the border and aggressively enforce our nation's immigration laws. Otherwise, drug cartels and criminal aliens will continue to control the Southwest Border region."

Specifically, the Border Sovereignty and Protection Act would:

Require the construction of an additional 350 miles of double-layered, reinforced pedestrian fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. This infrastructure would supplement the approximate 350 miles of fencing completed between October 2006 and April 1, 2009, effectively reinstating the original mandate under the Secure Fence Act for 700 miles of pedestrian fencing;
Provide the Department of Homeland Security with legal authority to investigate criminal drug violations of the Controlled Substances Act or the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act. The authority to fully investigate drug crimes, referred to as "Title 21" authority, is currently maintained by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The number of Homeland Security agents that can investigate transnational drug cases is arbitrarily limited by DEA. For example, only 1,500 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents - a force that exceeds 6,000 special agents, are currently permitted to investigate criminal drug cases. Nearly 5,000 ICE agents who are fully trained in all aspects of border crime are prohibited from participating in these investigations;
Increase the mandatory minimum sentence for all weapons smuggling offenses to 15 years. Weapons smugglers are often prosecuted under "non-trafficking" statutes that make it unlawful for certain persons to be in possession of firearms or import/export any merchandise, material or object contrary to U.S. laws;
Deny reimbursement for SCAAP funding for state and local governments that maintain sanctuary policies and prohibit local law enforcement officials from gathering data or information on an individual's immigration status;
Permit immigration officers to expeditiously remove undocumented aliens not continuously present in the U.S. for three years unless that individual has been charged with a crime or is seeking asylum;
Permit the Secretary of Homeland Security to expeditiously remove criminal aliens;
Require all employers to verify the immigration status of employees through the E-Verify system.
The Border Sovereignty and Protection Act, which has been referred to the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees, is cosponsored by Reps: Bilbray, Poe, Royce, Campbell, Marchant, Alexander, Rohrabacher, Calvert, Akin, Franks and Gary Miller.

"I think what Congressman Hunter is offering is his perspective and it is part of a diminishing minority perspective," Noorani said.

Not amongst the voting populace, which continues to overwhelmingly support border enforcement over legalization/amnesty schemes.

And I'm glad to see that Rep. Hunter is following in the fine footsteps of his father.

Populist wrote:

And I'm glad to see that Rep. Hunter is following in the fine footsteps of his father.

Yep, and here I thought the elder Hunter would be missed. Seems like the son is taking over where Duncan left off.

Originally Posted by MW

Populist wrote:

And I'm glad to see that Rep. Hunter is following in the fine footsteps of his father.

Yep, and here I thought the elder Hunter would be missed. Seems like the son is taking over where Duncan left off.

That he is!