Speech #1090121714

The bill which passed out of committee. of course. sets up several things. First. it sets up an enforcement mechanism which is substantial. much like the amendment offered by Senator SESSIONS of Alabama in the committee. It adds 12.000 new agents to our Border Patrol. adds 1.000 investigators a year for the next 5 yearsthat was Senator SPECTERs amendment: new security perimeter. under Senator SPECTER. virtual fence. tightened controls. exit/ entry security system at all land borders and airports. construction of barriers for vehicles and mandating new roads where needed. fences. checkpoints. ports of entry. increased resources for transporting aliens. new criminal penalties for tunnels--that was a recommendation of Senators FEINSTEIN and KYLnew criminal penalties for evading immigration officers. by Senator SESSIONSall of these amendments accepted. included in the bill in the enforcement sectionnew criminal penalties for money laundering offered by Senator SESSIONS. accepted as part of this bipartisan bill. There is an amendment on a comprehensive surveillance plan by Senator SPECTER. and also. I should say. expanded smuggling efforts. improved interagency cooperation on alien smuggling. increased document fraud detection. biometric identifiers. expanded detention authority. and increased detention facilities and beds. We require the Department of Homeland Security to acquire 20 new detention facilities to accommodate at least 10.000 detainees. a suggestion by Senator SESSIONS which is part of this bill. expanded terrorist removal grounds. expanded aggravated felony definition. increased Federal penalties for gangs. removal of those who have failed to depart. increased criminal sentences for repeat illegal entrants. new removal grounds. passport fraud and fraud offenses as a ground for removal. removal of criminals prior to release. new authority for State and local police to investigate. apprehend. arrest. detain. or transfer aliens to Federal custody. immigration status in the NCIC database now becomes an element that we require. we prohibit time limits on background collection. impose criminal penalties for aid for the undocumented. assistance to States to help prosecute and imprison undocumented criminal aliens. stronger employment verification procedures. penalties for employers who hire undocumented aliens are increased. additional worksite enforcement and fraud detection agents. We add 10.000 new worksite enforcement agents. 2.000 every year for the next 5 years. and 5.000 new fraud detection agents. 1.000 each year for the next 5 years. I read this lengthy list so the Record would be clear that we have made serious efforts on a bipartisan basis to accept amendments even from those Senators who oppose the underlying bill so there is no question that we will have strong enforcement standards to secure our Nations borders. and to also say those employers who ignore the law will be penalized and will be investigated so that they understand we are serious.