Numerous recent articles have told stories of Minuteman members who are haunted by cries of women who are being raped and abused. who when they first heard the cries. they actually thought they were coyotes wailing In the desert. These are women and young girls being raped. All along the southern border. the sight of womens undergarments hang from border fences as trophies. This is appalling. and yet it is also very telling. There are stories of mattresses tucked in caves for more convenient access to rape young girls as young as 8- and 9yearsold crossing the border. Violent acts against females in this manner are despicable. Congress cannot and should not tolerate this behavior. H.R. 4437. the Border Protection. Antiterterrorism. and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. takes decisive action to reduce and eliminate this criminal activity. My amendment to the bill is a declaration that Congress condemns these rapes along the United States border. Additionally. my amendment urges the Government of Mexico and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to work together to take immediate action to prevent such rapes from continuing. We all understand that the best mechanism for preventing these rapes is to encourage legal citizenship and to stop people from crossing our borders illegally and therefore putting themselves In harms way. By including my amendment in the underlying legislation. this House is sending a loud and clear message of its dedication to improving all aspects of border security. Urging both the United States and Mexico to take action is a good first step toward a peaceful. safe. and secure border. The bill also provides a tremendous overhaul of the United States Immigration policies. and I am very pleased that the House is debating this issue before we adjourn for the year. As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security. I look forward to implementing these measures. and I also look forward to the time when reports of rape and cruelty to young girls and women are not an issue on our border.
Keywords matched
Illegal Immigration border security Immigration Border Protection border fence