Speech #1100056796

It says that before this bill can go forward. the President must demonstrate to Congress. and Congress must agree. that current laws are being enforcedlaws that are on the books. This amendment is common sense. If the agencies can demonstrate that U.S. borders are secure and immigration laws are enforced. then the American people have reason to believe that this time things will be different. They will demonstrate that compassion. once again. so often seen in the past. What will the trigger do? This trigger is the legislative mechanism for ensuring that the Federal Government meets certain legal obligations before the process for legalizing illegal immigrants can begin. It is very simple. It will add to the current trigger amendment. It takes several provisions of existing law. laws that are on the books. and requires they be fully implemented before we grant amnesty or legal status to illegal aliens. What are they? The Department must achieve and maintain operational control over the international maritime borders of the United States. as required by a law passed last year by 80 to 19 in this bodythe Secure Fence Act. All databases maintained by the Department with information on aliens shall be fully integrated. as required by section 202 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002. That is not accomplished yet. No. 3. The exit portion of the U.S. visa system is to be fully implemented. as required by section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. That is not being enforced. That the provision of law that prohibits States and localities from adopting sanctuary policies is fully enforced by section 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996. that the Department employ fully operational equipment at each port of entry in accordance with section 303 of the Enhanced Border and Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002. aliens with border crossing cards are prevented from entering unless their biometric card is matched to them. as required by section 1I01(a1)6 of Title VIII of United States Code. How this trigger works. It requires the agencies that are responsible for implementing these laws and the various portions of them to report to the President when they have been fully implemented. and that the President review the certifications and either approve or deny them. If the President denies the agency has fulfilled the requirement. according to the law. the President must instruct the agency on what to do and when to bring it up to date. Congress shall then. on an expedited basis. once the President has certified. review the report and pass a resolution affirming the laws have been enforced: that they have been implemented. We are not ever going to gain back the trust of the American people on immigration until we do what we have already passed. It is not about not welcoming people. it is ab~out the rule of law and understanding that only can they have a future if we maintain the rule of law. Why is this needed?