We all know what happened nationally when we saw one case where there was apparent overreaction from the police and use of excessive forcethat is what it appears to be. But the fact of the matter is. we have to stop that kind of recklessness. driving on a 60-. 70mile chase where you endanger the lives of the police following you and you endanger the lives of those people you are smuggling. Following that case when force was used. we had seven illegal immigrants killed. who fell over a cliff when the smuggling attempt led to disaster. So. I was very surprised to see that there are no Federal penalties for such reckless behavior. What I am offering. and what Senator SIMPSON and Senator KENNEDY are working with me on. is a Federal penalty for those who crash through a Federal checkpoint and. in fact. do not stop. We want to make sure there is a Federal penalty of 5 years in prison for those who do that. and perhapswe are working with Senator SIMPSON on this--an even tougher penalty where those people could be deported. Because anyone who would lead law enforcement on a highspeed chase not only endangering the police officers themselves but also the cargo they are carryingby that I mean human cargoand all the drivers on the road. they deserve to be thrown in jail or deported. I also want to briefly touch on an amendment that I am cosponsoring with Senator FE.NSTEiN which deals with the triple fence authorized in the bill. I will not go into all of the details in the interest of time. But we feel that the Border Patrol could do better if we did not dictate exactly that a $12 million fence should be built. or inhibit their ability to design fencing in the way they want and to use some of the money for other needed infrastructure improvements. Moreover. we certainly do not want to force law enforcement to build a triple fence if they feel it would endanger their lives. And that is what they have told us.
Keywords matched
illegal immigrants Border Patrol deported