Speech #1100080867

I have heard from local law enforcement officials from every corner of my home State of North Carolina who. frankly. have had it. They are fed up. They are fed up because they are powerless to bring justice to illegal aliens who are committing crimes. such as drinking and driving and gangrelated activity. They are fed up that Federal agents lack the manpower to help them process these criminals. They are fed up with the catch and release of dangerous individuals. Local law enforcement officers are fed up that when they try to solve these serious problemsthat is. they seek authority under a program called 287(g) to process illegal aliens who committed crimesthey are put through the bureaucratic ringer and often turned away. Why would the Department of Homeland Security deny our local law enforcement agencies the tools that are readily available to them under current law that would help address major challenges in their communities? Most simply. the answer is funding. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. or ICE. does not have the money to train and provide assistance to these local entities that are textbook examples of places that desperately need 287(g) status. In the aftermath of the immigration debate. it Is abundantly clear Americans have no confidence that their Government is taking the critical steps to secure our borders or enforce the laws on the books. The public will continue to distrust and rightly reject any socalled comprehensive immigration reform until they wholeheartedly believe these steps have been taken to keep their communities and families safe. The 287(g) program is an invaluable tool to achieving these goals. and it should be fully utilized. My amendments will help ensure that it is fully utilized. and without actually increasIng the cost of the bill.