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Ohio's Congressman Votes On Border Security Bill

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Paul E. Gillmor (R- Old Fort) voted for legislation on Friday to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States . The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 239 to 182.

Among the many provisions of the Border Security bill is the requirement that the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security coordinate with the Border Patrol to ensure widespread state-of-the-art border surveillance is employed. This will ensure complete coverage of the borders through cameras, sensors, radar, satellite, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. In addition, the House has authorized the hiring and training of 1,000 new, full-time port of entry inspectors and 1,500 additional K-9 units in the next five years.

The House has also voted to end the practice of “Catch and Release.” In the past, the Border Patrol was forced to release illegal aliens which had been apprehended due to a lack of detention space. In October of 2006, the Border Patrol will be required to detain all illegal immigrants and keep them in custody until they are removed from the country. Other measures passed by the House include an increased penalty for alien smuggling and increased penalties for aliens re-entering the U.S. illegally. The House passed provisions which would render members of alien street gangs and violent felons inadmissible and deportable from the United States . Lastly, the House made multiple DUI offenses a deportable offense for all aliens.

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