[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 164 (Sunday, December 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




BORDER PROTECTION, ANTI-TERRORISM, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONTROL ACT 
                                OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4437) to 
     amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to strengthen 
     enforcement of the immigration laws, to enhance border 
     security, and for other purposes:

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer my views on H.R. 4437 
and this important issue. As a member of the U.S. House Committee on 
Homeland Security, I have worked actively with both Republicans and 
Democrats to strengthen our Nation's laws to protect the American 
people. Many of the provisions of this bill are under the jurisdiction 
of the Homeland Security committee, although this version differs 
substantially from the Committee's product.
  The debate on immigration reform is an important matter for this 
country. Last year, I voted to pass the 9/11 Commission Recommendations 
Implementation Act, which authorized an additional 10,000 Border Patrol 
agents and 4,000 additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 
officers. Unfortunately, the Bush administration's budget funds only 
210 additional border agents and 80 ICE officers in fiscal year 2006.
  I support several amendments to this bill because they take concrete 
steps to correct real problems with the immigration status quo. For 
example, I support the Myrick amendment that provides for the removal 
of an illegal alien who is convicted of driving drunk. I also support 
the Shadegg amendment to increase penalties for document fraud and 
crimes of violence and drug trafficking offenses committed by illegal 
aliens. In addition, I support the Velazquez amendment to reduce the 
immigration application processing backlog that has choked the system 
to a virtual standstill. Unfortunately, these reasonable steps cannot 
overcome the fundamental flaws of H.R. 4437, which takes an unrealistic 
approach that will exacerbate the problems of the current system by 
driving the undocumented further underground, deeper into the black 
market and further estranged from the laws of our country.
  We need to reform the broken immigration system in America, but this 
bill is harsh, punitive and anti-family and does not fix the many 
problems with the current system. Rather than pass new laws that make 
innocent children Federal criminals, we should vigorously enforce the 
laws against illegal immigration that are already on the books, hire 
the thousands of additional security personnel that have already been 
authorized to guard our borders and work for a fair, balanced 
immigration plan that encourages lawfulness, rewards hard work and 
safeguards families.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in rejection of this legislation, 
so Congress and the President can start over on a more productive 
approach to fix the broken immigration system. Vote against H.R. 4437.

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