By Barb Barrett, Staff Writer
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole and five other GOP senators wrote President Bush today that federal policies are encouraging illegal immigration.
The senators, led by Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, also submitted a resolution in the U.S. Senate calling on the federal government to make a host of changes on immigration policies, among them:

— ending the policy of returning captured migrants at the border into Mexico without prosecution; — enforcing the prohibition of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants; — increasing by thousands the numbers of detention beds, Border Patrol agents and immigration investigators by the end of the fiscal year; — building 700 miles of fence along the border; — increasing the use of expedited removal proceedings for illegal immigrants and enforcing the provisions on overstayed visas.

A joint resolution was submitted in the U.S. House of Representatives as well.

"Such enforcement measures can be taken now, without enacting additional legislation," the senators wrote to Bush.

Dole, a Republican from Salisbury, also released a statement, saying, "The federal government's failure to carry out the immigration laws on the books sends the message that this country is not really serious about securing our borders and communities and stemming the flow of illegal aliens. We don't need more empty promises - we need real proof that our borders are secure and that our laws are enforced."


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