Border Security
Our nation was founded and built by immigrants “yearning to breathe free.” I believe we should continue building on that proud tradition by welcoming newcomers into our nation while insisting that they learn and follow our language, laws, and history.
The federal government is directly responsible for enforcing existing laws to secure our borders and ensure the safe and legal movement of people, goods, and commerce across our borders. I have been successful in pushing a zero tolerance program that is dramatically reducing crime and illegal immigration along our southern border. Under this strict enforcement policy, everyone caught crossing the border illegally is arrested, prosecuted, and jailed for up to six months. I helped to implement the program in the Laredo Border Patrol Sector recently and I am working to expand it from Brownsville to San Diego.
I am strongly opposed to amnesty for illegal immigrants. Respect for the rule of law is a hallmark of our democracy, and one of the reasons America has the largest immigrant population in the world. We must work streamline and improve our visa system so that people who want to come to our country legally through the proper channels are able to do so without unnecessary delays. As a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus, I am working with my colleagues to overhaul our visa system.
I also believe that employers should be required to verify the legal status of all employees using the national e-verify database. This requirement will reduce the incentive for illegal immigration and provide employers with the information they need to hire legal, documented workers.
They very idea that there is debate on border security and illegal immigration is at the very least amusing. One only has to spend time in cities like Houston, Phoenix and San Diego to see that it just isn’t happening. There are parts of Houston that you would swear you are in Mexico, there is not even an attempt to show English on signs or speak English. I don’t blame people for wanting a better life and coming here but the cost is out of hand. Until we stop people from hiring cheap illegal labor the tide will continue. Our current administration will never stop it, if anything the illegal population will be given amnesty and become a huge voting block for the ObamaNation!
I came to this country as a Legal Immigrant. Now, I am a Permanent resident on path to become a naturalized US Citizen. I am a Strong believer in enforcing existing rules and laws to ensure that immigration flow is legal, as designed by US lawmakers. Justice delayed in justice denied. The current immigration system was drafted in the 1960s. It is time to look into the immigration system unemotionally and make decision that’s best for USA.
Unfortunately, we cannot have any debate of meaningful reform without the cacophony of illegal immigrants already in the country. In my opinion, there should not be debate about people who broke the law. The penalty for breaking the law should be high enough to deter future repeat breaking of the same law. Unless we make a stand, we will lose control of our borders.
And as for the real immigration policy, lets have a debate on what types of immigration to allow. Current system is skewed towards family immigration. While having immediate family members over is good, everyone inviting their brothers, sisters and their spouses will create a chain of only family based immigration.
Employment based immigration works as it reacts to the needs of the market. Small tweaks in this system will help us attract the best and the brightest.
I respectfully urge you to vote YES to the border fence amendment #1399 offered by Senator DeMint which requires DHS to complete 700 miles of double layered, reinforced fencing along our southwest border by 2010.
The House version DOES NOT contain the DeMint amendment! I urge you to SUPPORT the DeMint border fence amendment adopted by the Senate as part of the FY2010 DHS appropreations bill!
It is NOT acceptable to strip this important border security measure from this bill during
BACKROOM, CLOSED DOOR NEGOTIATIONS!