I rise in strong support of this amendment. and I thank Mrs. MYRICK for her work on this legislation. Unfortunately. a recent tragedy in my home district in southeastern North Carolina makes clear the need for strengthening our immigration laws in this type of situation. On July 16. Scott Gardner. a constituent of Mrs. MYRIcK. was killed in my district while traveling with his family to go to the beach on vacation. He was killed by a drunk driver. an illegal immigrant who should never have been in this country in the first place. not just because he came here illegally. but because he had already broken the law three times and was still In our country. Prior to killing Scott Gardner. this Illegal alien had been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol on three separate occasions. But rather than being deported for breaking the law a third time. this Illegal immigrant was sentenced to just 30 days in jail and then released back into society. The tragedy the Gardner family experienced personifies the need for expanding efforts to stop illegal immigration and improve our border control. It is time to send a clear message to those who would break our laws and put our Nations citizens at risk. You are drunk. you are driving. you are illegal. you are deported. We must honor the family of Scott Gardner and others like him by passing this amendment. It is important to pass this amendment now before another family suffers such an unfortunate tragedy.
Identified stereotypes
Associates undocumented immigrants with drunk driving and being a threat to citizens.