[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16117]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             SECURITY FIRST

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we secure our 
southern border immediately. One overlooked reason is the Department of 
Homeland Security has issued data which indicates that each year, 
hundreds of aliens from countries known to harbor terrorists or who 
promote terrorism are apprehended attempting to enter this country 
illegally. Since 2002, the number of non-Mexicans apprehended while 
trying to enter the United States illegally has increased 343 percent.
  This is of great concern to me and to others. In the words of former 
Deputy Secretary ADM James Loy of Homeland Security: ``Entrenched human 
smuggling and corruption in areas beyond our borders can be exploited 
by terrorist organizations.''
  There have been reports, Mr. Speaker, that terrorist organizations, 
including al Qaeda, have been operating, recruiting members, and maybe 
training terrorists in South American countries, including Argentina, 
Brazil, and Paraguay. This is particularly alarming when you consider 
that attempts to enter our country illegally from Brazil has increased 
900 percent over the last 3 years.
  It is imperative that we secure our borders now.

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