Mr. Chairman. I rise today to offer an amendment to enhance Americas ability to prosecute and detain illegal aliens around our southwest border. State and local law enforcement agencies along Americas southwest border grapple with the serious consequences of our porous border every day. Prosecutors. probation officers. courts and detention facilities are all vital. They process drug and illegal alien cases referred from Federal arrests. Currently. if the Federal Government decides to no longer pursue Federal criminal charges against the defendant. they often turn over the case to local law enforcement agencies. State and local agencies often need to be reimbursed for the costs of prosecution and court costs. as well as pre- and posttrial detention. The Southwest Border Prosecutor Initiative helps relieve border communities of the steep costs of Federal drug prosecutions. Cases involving illegal aliens and drug traffickers are complex and urgent. Thats why the Southwest Border Prosecutor Initiative needs and deserves vigorous Federal support. Last year Congress funded this program with $29.617.000.
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