Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2006
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - May 17, 2005)
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Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise to strike the last word.
I rise in strong support of this important bill and for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. ROGERS), the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
Since the tragic events of 9/11 and the subsequent creation of the Department of Homeland Security, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of undocumented aliens apprehended at our borders. And last year alone, approximately 1.2 million people were apprehended at our southwest border. It is conservatively estimated by border patrol that three undocumented aliens get past our borders for every one that is caught. It is estimated also that the number of non-Mexican illegal immigrants, also known as OTMs, entering our country has increased tremendously in some border patrol sectors by 300 percent this year.
This group, often not on any watch lists and usually lacking legitimate documentation, should cause us all great concern. Despite the risk these persons present, the problem has grown because courts will not impose detection and because the Department of Homeland Security lacks adequate detention space.
As a former counterterrorism prosecutor in the Justice Department whose jurisdiction included the Mexican border, I know firsthand the threat this poses to our national security. When the border patrol catches individuals who do not fall in the category of mandatory detainees, they often have no choice but to release them on their own recognizance with a notice to appear at an immigration hearing, only to disappear later. It is commonly derided by law enforcement as the "catch-and-release program." This is exactly how Ramzi Yousef, the al Qaeda perpetrator of the 1993 World Trade Center bombings entered this country.
This is why I, along with the support of 44 of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, signed a letter to the Committee on Appropriations asking for full funding of the 2000 border patrol, 800 interior investigators and most importantly, 8,000 detention beds recommended by the 9/11 Commission and authorized by the Intelligence Reform Act.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. McCAUL of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Texas is absolutely correct. There is a definite problem with our system that we hope to correct.
The bill before us provides $690 million, $90 million more than DHS asked, for an additional 1,920 detention bed spaces; and that combined with what we provided in the supplemental appropriations bill last week will add a total of 3,870 new beds over the current level. In addition, the bill provides $43 million for alternatives to detention, tripling last year's level and $10 million more than DHS requested. That will go further to attack the problem of the so-called OTMs who abuse our immigration policies and leave a gaping hole in the integrity of the borders.
I am convinced that the so-called catch-and-release practice signals that our current system is in need of significant reform. This bill is intended to make an effort in that respect.
Mr. McCAUL of Texas. The Chairman has worked hard to produce a bill that will fund additional border security enforcement and detention space within budgetary limitations and supports expanding the use of alternatives to detention as a way of compensating for the shortage of bed space and smart solutions to the bigger problem of coping with the numbers of illegal aliens crossing into our country.
I will continue to work with the chairman and the Committee on the Budget to ensure that in the future detention beds authorized by Congress are fully funded.
I thank the chairman, and I commend the gentleman for taking the time to hear the concerns of our border communities and for responding so readily. All of the items provided for in this bill will help keep criminals and terrorists from crossing into the United States and, when they do, ensure that they are detained and removed from our country.
In the post-9/11 world, this is not just an issue related to immigration; it is one of national security.
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