Rep. Cole Supports Passage of Key Bills to Help Secure Borders

Washington – Rep. Tom Cole this week voted for three major pieces of legislation that will help increase border security and crack down on illegal immigration. The three bills passed by the House were the Community Protection Act of 2006 (H.R. 6094), the Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 (H.R. 6095), and the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006 (H.R. 4830).

“These three bills can make an immediate impact in securing our borders and securing our nation. They are common sense bills that will help law enforcement and homeland security officials do their job better, while increasing penalties for those who disobey the law,” said Rep. Tom Cole said. "While working towards comprehensive immigration legislation, we must give our law enforcement, immigration officers and Homeland Security Personnel the resources and the ability to enforce the law."

The Community Protection Act (H.R. 6094) ensures that dangerous illegal immigrants, who for a variety of reasons cannot be deported by the Department of Homeland Security, could be detained for renewable periods of six months. This legislation also expedites the removal of alien criminals and toughens laws against alien gang members.

The Immigration Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 6095) reaffirms the inherent authority of state and local law enforcement to voluntarily investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain, and transfer to federal custody illegal immigrants. This legislation authorizes an increase in the number of attorneys to prosecute alien smuggling cases. H.R. 6095 also helps close loopholes that have hurt the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to enforce immigration laws.

The Border Tunnel Prevention Act (H.R. 4830) enacts criminal penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment for individuals who knowingly construct or finance the construction of an unauthorized tunnel across a U.S. international border. In addition, individuals who recklessly permit the construction of such a tunnel on their own property are subject to imprisonment of up to 10 years. Individuals caught using such a tunnel to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, weapons, or terrorists are subject to twice the penalty that would have otherwise been imposed.

These three bills were developed after House leaders held more than 20 field hearings in the months of July and August to examine the issue of border security and identify ways to improve our nation’s current immigration system. They must now pass in the Senate.

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