House Democrats Hiding From Their Own
Washington,
Jul 5, 2006 -
Democrats have Voted Against Efforts to Strengthen Border and Immigration Enforcement
What is the dubious record of House Democrats on border security? Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) criticized House Republicans today for holding field hearings on border security, and attacked Republicans for their record on this issue. Not mentioned in Sherman’s criticism, however, were the two critically important pieces of border security legislation that he and a majority of his House Democrat colleagues voted against.
Last year, Congressman Sherman joined 152 of his fellow Democrats in voting against the REAL ID Act. Among other things, this important legislation:
- Implemented needed driver’s license reforms, making it more difficult for potential terrorists to obtain driver’s licenses and ensuring that states improve their data security.
- Ensured completion of the 14-mile long San Diego Border Fence on the Mexico-U.S. border next to a major U.S. Navy base.
- Strengthened deportation laws by making all terrorist-related offenses grounds for deportation.
Last December, Congressman Sherman joined 164 of his fellow Democrats in voting against the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act. Among other things, this legislation would:
- Increase border security by authorizing 1,000 new border inspectors and training 1,500 additional K-9 units.
- Implement new state-of-the-art surveillance technology to ensure one hundred percent coverage of our borders.
- Add severe penalties for border-crossing facilitators – known as “coyotes” – who illegally smuggle people into the U.S. with little regard for human life.
- End current “catch and release” practices, where illegal aliens who have been apprehended are released due to lack of detention space.
- Stop employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Since 1995, the Republican Congress has increased spending on immigration-related border security and enforcement from $1.2 billion to $12.7 billion. During that same period, the number of Border Patrol Agents has increased from 5,000 to 12,000. Yet, still millions of illegal immigrants have been able to gain access to our nation. This underscores the importance of taking a new and stronger approach to border security – something House Republicans are embracing, and something that House Democrats will continue to vote against.
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