Sen. Cornyn Visits New National Border Security & Immigration Center At UTEP

Press Release

Discusses Efforts To Quell Border Violence And Illegal Trafficking With UTEP Officials And Federal Agencies

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee, today visited the recently named National Center for Border Security and Immigration at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Sen. Cornyn received a briefing from UTEP officials on the center's mission to develop new technologies and tools aimed at balancing lawful immigration and trade with enhanced border security. Sen. Cornyn also heard an update from several federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on their latest efforts to quell rising violence and drug, weapons, and human trafficking along the border.

"I was impressed with the staff I met with today and the great potential the new National Center for Border Security and Immigration at UTEP has to be a national leader in research relating to some of the most pressing issues our country faces today. I'm confident this center will be an excellent resource for local, state and federal officials, providing state-of-the-art technology and tools to boost border security and efforts to enhance lawful immigration and trade," Sen. Cornyn said.

"With rising violence across the border at the hand of drug cartels and gangs, the need has never been greater for increased resources and attention to securing our border and ensuring safety for families and businesses in El Paso and across Texas. I heard from a number of agencies today who deal firsthand with the challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border. These men and women need as much support as possible as they crack down on violence and drug, human and weapons trafficking. I will continue to work on the federal level to secure increased support for their hard work. I am committed to continue working with the agencies and UTEP officials I met with today to develop innovative and effective solutions to the unique and serious challenges our border poses."

Legislative Background:

* Sen. Cornyn continues to support the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to reimburse Texas communities for the cost of incarcerating criminal illegal aliens. This important program reimburses $24 million to Texas every year, but Sen. Cornyn is pushing for the expansion of this program to provide additional reimbursement to Texas communities who struggle to afford the costs associated with criminal aliens in their cities.
* Earlier this summer in Laredo, Sen. Cornyn announced federal legislation he has introduced to crack down on commercial vehicle operators who engage in human smuggling. Sen. Cornyn's new legislation, the Putting the Brakes on Human Smuggling Act (S.3250), will close a federal loophole that currently inflicts tougher penalties on commercial motor vehicle operators who smuggle narcotics than those who smuggle humans. For example, the man responsible for abandoning a trailer full of more than 75 illegal immigrants in Victoria in 2003, killing 19 of them in the process, did not have his New York state commercial driver license (CDL) revoked because his crime was "not considered a traffic offense."
* Sen. Cornyn is an original co-sponsor of the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007 (S.456), legislation that establishes new criminal laws and tougher penalties to deter and punish members of street gangs. It also provides more than $1 billion in funding for gang enforcement, prevention and intervention programs.

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee's Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

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