For Immediate Release:
Saturday, December 17, 2005

BOREN VOTES TO CRACK DOWN
ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Bill calls for fence along border, increased penalties for being here illegally

WASHINGTON D.C - Congressman Dan Boren voted late Friday night to strengthen the security of our southern border in an effort to significantly reduce to flow of illegal immigrants into the United States.  The bill would put more inspectors and canine units at border crossings, requires all employers to check the immigration status of job applicants and stiffens the penalties against employers for hiring illegal immigrants.  It also calls for the construction of a security fence – including lights and cameras – in areas of the Southwest border most susceptible to illegal crossings.

 

“Our immigration laws should reflect our common-sense Oklahoma values and protect quality jobs for hard working Oklahomans,” Boren said.  “Illegal immigration is costing taxpayers millions and driving down wages for Oklahomans. 

 

“America has always been a welcoming nation, but illegal immigration creates an underclass of workers who provide unfair competition to Americans struggling to makes ends meet,” Boren said.

 

The border control measure makes being in the United States illegally a criminal offense and doubles the penalty that comes with it.  It eliminates a visa lottery program that hands out 55,000 visas to immigrants every year and requires state and local law enforcement officials to enforce immigration laws.  Penalties are significantly strengthened for illegal immigrants involved in drug trafficking.

 

“Illegal immigration has to be taken seriously and our borders have to be secured,” Boren said.  “It’s not just an immigration issue; it’s a national security issue.

 

“The volume of drugs flowing across the border alone shows that it’s not hard for internationals to bring harmful things into the country,” Boren said.  “As we devote vast resources to fight terror abroad, we must not forget our homeland security.”

 

The House of Representatives adopted the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R. 4437) by a vote of 239-182.  It now awaits debate in the Senate.

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