House Acts to Tighten Alien Smuggling Statute; Enhances Penalties

Press Release

House Acts to Tighten Alien Smuggling Statute; Enhances Penalties

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), who for over three years has championed the effort to increase efforts and resources to prosecute "coyotes" who smuggle aliens into the United States for profit, today, supported legislation that provides mandatory minimum sentences for smuggling convictions. Issa first introduced legislation to create mandatory minimum sentences for alien smugglers in June 2005. In 2006, these provisions were included in the House Border Security Enhancement Act that was approved by the House of Representatives but never became law.

"This legislation will enhance sentences for smugglers, tightens statutes to help prosecutors, and places a new emphasis in fighting the criminal cartels that flaunt our immigration laws for profit," said Issa who serves of the House Judiciary Committee. "Toughening laws to eliminate loopholes and stiffening penalties alone will not stop human trafficking cartels," added Issa. "The Department of Justice should adopt a zero tolerance policy for alien smuggling and the Congress must fund this effort."

Since information was first brought to Rep. Issa's attention in December 2003 that repeat offender alien smugglers were routinely released without being prosecuted by the then U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Carol Lam, Issa has fought to bring the attention of the Congress, the Justice Department, and the President to the problem on the border. In 2005, Congressman Issa successfully obtained an annual authorization of $5 million to specifically target prosecution of coyotes through 2009.

H.R. 2399 was approved today by a vote of 412 to 0 with 6 abstentions. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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