[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H3147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IMMIGRANT SMUGGLERS AVOID PROSECUTION

  (Mr. KELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, 94 percent of the felons arrested for 
illegally smuggling aliens across the Mexico border near San Diego are 
never prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney. This is according to a shocking 
internal Border Patrol report just revealed by the Associated Press.
  Are you surprised? I told the Attorney General about this problem on 
April 6, and I spoke on the House floor about it on April 27. On my 
recent trip to the Mexico border, Border Patrol agents in California 
told me that they have arrested the same coyotes 20 times but they are 
not prosecuted.
  The pathetic failure of the U.S. Attorney in San Diego to prosecute 
alien smugglers who have been arrested 20 times is a demoralizing slap 
in the face to Border Patrol agents to who risk their lives every day. 
This U.S. Attorney has, however, recently prosecuted someone for 
selling a Mark McGuire baseball card with a forged signature.
  Here is a tip: Stop worrying about baseball cards and start worrying 
about enforcing our immigration laws.

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