Yesterday U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) introduced tough new border security and immigration reform legislation that closes the immigration loopholes in the recently passed intelligence reform bill.
Yesterday U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) introduced tough new border security and immigration reform legislation that closes the immigration loopholes in the recently passed intelligence reform bill.
“Everyone knows that the nineteen 9/11 hijackers somehow secured 63 valid drivers’ licenses and used them to board U.S. airplanes. As many as eight hijackers were even registered to vote. What we have here is an immigration crisis. This is unacceptable,” said Johnson, a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus.
“People are constantly plotting and planning to bring us down and our immigration system is one of our weakest links. Something must be done because our immigration problem is a national security problem,” Johnson continued.
The Restrict Enemy Aliens from Licenses and Identity Documents Act, or the REAL ID bill, would dramatically change the way the nation handles immigration, specifically in the critical areas of drivers’ licenses, state identity cards, asylum reform, terrorist deportation and border enhancements. This bill, H.R. 418, cracks down in all areas mentioned above and protects our national security interests. Advocates for illegal immigration stripped these important provisions from the final intelligence bill that became law last month.
Highlights of the REAL ID bill include:
-Creating stronger security standards for the issuance of drivers’ licenses and state ID cards.
* Proof of lawful presence in the U.S.
* A temporary drivers’ license expires when an alien’s visa expires
-Tightening the asylum system abused by terrorists.
* Allow immigration judges to determine witness credibility in asylum cases
* Keep terrorists out of U.S. by ensuring all terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility are grounds for deportation
-Closing the 3-Mile Hole in the U.S./Mexico Border Fence near San Diego.
“Last December I voted against the intelligence reform bill because it failed to include the 9/11 Commission recommendations on illegal immigration. We must act now. This issue is not going away,” concluded Johnson.
House leaders promised a vote on the 9/11 Commission immigration reforms early this year. H.R. 418 has 118 cosponsors.
Johnson represents Collin and Dallas Counties.
