Speech #1090151210

Simultaneously. Mexican workers migrate to the agricultural areas around Lancaster. creating a southern link to criminal networks. The urban core is therefore transient. poor. nonEnglish speaking and often undocumented ... In this fertile environment. the Latin Kings. Bloods. NETA and lately MS13. are recruiting or fighting with local gangs for control of the drug markets. Violence is a daily byproduct." My bill provides relief for cities. counties and States dealing with increased costs because of illegal immigrationspecifically those caused by the criminal acts of illegal immigrants. There are four programs included in my bill to address these issues. First. there are grants to law enforcement agencies within 100 miles of the Canadian or Mexican borders or such agencies where there is a lack of security and a rise in criminal activity because of the lack of border security. including a preference for communities with less than 50.000 people. Second. local governments can be reimbursed for costs associated with processing criminal illegal aliens such as indigent defense. criminal prosecution. translators and court costs. Third. State and local law enforcement agencies can be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the detention and transportation of an illegal alien to Federal custody. Finally. reimbursements are available for costs incurred in prosecuting criminal cases that were federallyinitiated but where the Federal entity declined to prosecute. In addition. my bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide sufficient transportation and officers to take Illegal aliens apprehended by State and local law enforcement officers Into custody for processing at a detention facility operated by the Department. and that the Secretary designate at least one Federal. State. or local facility in each State as the central facility to transfer custody to the Department of Homeland Security. This bill also expedites the removal of criminal aliens from correctional facilities and expands border security programs through the Department of Commerce such as the Carrier Initiative. the Americas Counter Smuggling Initiative. the Container Security Initiative. and the Free and Secure Trade Initiative. Throughout the debate on immigration reform. I have consistently stated that the first thing we must do is secure our Nations borders. While the House and Senate are working to come to an agreement on the broader issues in the immigration bill. I am pleased to be introducing the Border Security First Act today with my colleague from Georgia. Senator ISAKSON. and my colleague from Missouri. Senator TALENT. because our borders must be secured nownot later. In the post 9/11 world we live in. our national security depends on our border security. We need to know who is coming into our country. where they are from. and what they are doing here. We must put first things firstwe must secure our Nations borders.