Manzullo Votes to Secure U.S. Borders, Protect Americans from Terrorists
Washington,
Sep 14, 2006 -
Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today voted for legislation to beef up enforcement and construct new barriers at our borders to better protect Americans from terrorists and other criminals who enter the United States illegally. The House passed the bill 283 - 138.
The Secure Fence Act of 2006 (HR 6061) would strengthen control of all U.S. borders and ports through additional physical barriers and fencing and greater use of state-of-the-art technology and surveillance along the southwest border, including:
§Authorizing more than 700 miles of two-layered reinforced fencing along the southwest border with prioritized placement at critical, highly populated areas;
§Requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to achieve and maintain operational control over the entire border through a “virtual fence” that deploys cameras, ground sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and integrated surveillance technology;
§Requiring DHS to provide all necessary authority to border personnel to disable fleeing vehicles, similar to the authority held by the United States Coast Guard for maritime vessels; and
§Requiring DHS to assess vulnerabilities on the U.S. northern border.
Manzullo, a member of the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Exchange, viewed checkpoints along the southwest border this past spring with U.S. Border Patrol agents. The agents told him at least 10 percent of the illegal aliens who successfully cross the border are hardened criminals. One third of all inmates in U.S. prisons are illegal aliens.
Those statistics hit home for McHenry County earlier this year when a drunk driving illegal alien killed a Crystal Lake motorcyclist. Tragically, the illegal alien had killed another American while driving drunk 11 years earlier. He had been deported three times and entered illegally back into the United States each time, receiving two more arrests for drunken driving as well as arrests for disorderly conduct, trespassing, and endangering the life of a child.
“Each year, tens of thousands of hardened criminals from many foreign countries try to enter the United States illegally and terrorize Americans. Unfortunately, many of them succeed,” Manzullo said. “Our porous borders are a significant national security issue for Americans, and we must do everything we can to secure them. This legislation is a great start.”
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