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Congressman Patrick McHenry One Minute Speech
Washington,
Jul 11, 2006 -
Mr. Speaker, the Washington Times reported today that a Senate immigration
bill, the Kennedy bill, would prohibit State and local police from helping
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials combat illegal immigration. The
Senate bill bars State and local police from detaining aliens simply for being
in the U.S.
illegally. Police could arrest the aliens only if they commit certain
additional violations of Federal immigration law.
So the Senate bill wants to base our national security on
get-out-of-jail-free cards and second chances? Let me remind you, Mr. Speaker,
that four of the September 11 hijackers committed immigration violations and
had been stopped by State and local police before the attacks on our Nation.
Just 2 days before September 11, one hijacker, who had overstayed his visa, was
stopped and given a $270 speeding ticket. That was later found in his rented
car in the Newark
airport just a couple of days after September 11.
Mr. Speaker, those who don't learn from their mistakes are
destined to repeat them. The Kennedy bill in the Senate does just that.
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