Is Illegal Immigration Being Ignored In D.C?

Oct 14, 2007 08:48 PM PDT



NASHVILLE, Tenn.- A report from the state comptroller reveals when it comes to the illegal immigration issue, the federal government has to step in to solve the problem. But still, nothing's been done in Washington. Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn gives her insight on the gridlock.

The question of the year very well may be, ‘If it's such a big deal, why isn't Washington doing anything about illegal immigration?'

NewsChannel 5's Scott Arnold asked Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn to explain it from her perspective.

"You have a group that says lets not do anything until we can address all of it together, and have others of us that say we are never going to find 218 votes in the House and 60 in the Senate that are going to vote for everything. Let's take these measures one at a time," said Blackburn.

Blackburn said there are around 4,000 illegal entries a day into this country.

"One bill, one stroke of the pen is not going to solve this. It's going to take getting in there and securing the border first," she said. "You and I have both been on that border and we have both seen the human trafficking and the drugs coming across the border. That is what people want to see stopped first and foremost,"

Marsha Blackburn said Illegal immigration is the number one issue she hears about on a daily basis, but she said becoming impatient is not the answer.

Blackburn's focus is a new bill she created called the Clear Act. It's a piece of legislation that would let local law police enforce immigration law.

"Detain those criminal aliens when they have them in front of them, hold them until ICE, immigration and customs enforcement, comes to get them," she explained the bill.

Blackburn's bill is gaining momentum in D.C. She also expects some other illegal immigration bills could pass in the upcoming months.

http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=7212502