Mr. President. I wish to express my dismay regarding the collapse of the Senates work on border security legislation. As a border State Senator. I know firsthand the need to secure our international borders because every day I hear from constituents who must deal with illegal entries into our country. We have a crisis on our borders and the status quo is not acceptable. We need to address this situation but are not being allowed to because of Democrats refusal to allow votes on amendments to border security legislation on the Senate floor. Their refusal to allow votes means that my amendments. which are very important to New Mexico. the southwest border. and the Nation. cannot be considered. Those amendments would have provided for two more Federal judges in New Mexico to deal with immigration cases. provided 250 new deputy U.S. Marshals to transport and guard criminal illegal aliens. authorized $585 million for land port of entry infrastructure and technology. and called for Mexicos cooperation on border security. My amendments are based on needs that are imperative to border security. I have been told of the need for new Federal district judges in New Mexico by the Chief Judge for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. the Chief Judge of the New Mexico District. and several other Federal district judges in my home State. In fiscal year 2005. more than 1800 immigration cases were filed in the District of New Mexico. We must have more Federal judges to handle this caseload that the Judicial Conference has referred to this situation as a "crisis." I have been told of the need for new deputy U.S. Marshals by the U.S. Marshal for New Mexico. His deputies are responsible for transporting illegal aliens to court and guarding them when they appear in Federal district court. I have seen firsthand the need for port of entry improvements in New Mexico. and since I worked with Senator DeConcini on the last major land port of entry overhaul in 1986. I know that the time has come to again address our land port needs.
Keywords matched
illegal aliens border security immigration