Wicker Hope for Quick Action on Illegal Aliens

WICKER HOPES FOR QUICK ACTION ON ILLEGAL ALIENS

REPORT FROM CONGRESS
By Congressman Roger F. Wicker
January 31, 2005

Congress engaged in a spirited debate about intelligence-gathering and homeland security prior to enacting a sweeping intelligence reform bill in December. While the legislation incorporated many 9-11 Commission recommendations, it fell short of addressing key law enforcement and border security loopholes that could be exploited by terrorists.

The House version of the bill included several immigration reform provisions to close those loopholes, but they were not part of the final package. House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner made a forceful case for these reforms during that debate and won assurances that this issue would get priority attention in the new Congress. He introduced this bill last week and is pressing for swift consideration.

DRIVER'S LICENSE REFORMS

One of the key reforms would prevent illegal aliens from getting driver's licenses. The 19 hijackers from the 9-11 attacks had 13 valid driver's licenses and 21 state-issued identification cards, making it easier for them to move through identification checkpoints. The 9-11 Commission noted that travel documents are as important as weapons to terrorists. The Commission Report concluded that members of Al Qaida felt that freedom of movement was critical to their ability to plan and carry out attacks prior to September 11th. The report said, "If terrorist travel options are reduced, they may be forced to rely on means of interaction which can be more easily monitored and to resort to travel documents that are more easily detectible."

Among the bill's provisions is a requirement of proof that the individual is in the U.S. lawfully and establishment of stringent rules to confirm identity before licenses are issued. It would also require termination of temporary driver's licenses on the same day an alien's visa expires.

CORRECTING ASYLUM ABUSES

Correcting abuses of U.S. asylum law is another part of the package. Terrorist aliens have used the system to remain in the country illegally. They often concoct bogus political asylum stories and are released from detention. Ramzi Yusef masterminded the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 while he was free pending an asylum hearing in New York. To counter these activities, immigration judges would be given more authority to act, based on their determination of the credibility of witnesses in asylum cases.

Under current law, aliens can be prevented from entering the U.S. if they incite terrorist activity or are known to be representatives of terrorist organizations. However, aliens who are already in the U.S. cannot be deported on those same grounds. The bill would correct this inequity to make aliens deportable for the same reasons that make them inadmissible into the country. A third component of the bill would require completion of a three and a half mile security fence along California's border with Mexico near San Diego. Closing this gap would allow deployment of Border Patrol officers to other locations to help make the border more secure.

Chairman Sensenbrenner's legislation identifies vulnerabilities and offers solutions that would enhance homeland security. I hope Congress will have an opportunity to consider these reforms soon.

http://www.house.gov/wicker/Aliens.htm