Hatch supports border security efforts, amendments to immigration bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, current member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, voted for several amendments designed to strengthen border security efforts through S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act on Thursday.

“Securing our porous borders must be a fundamental component of any immigration reform legislation,” Hatch said. “Today, I supported a number of border security amendments that represent a significant improvement over what was in the initial bill. We need to be sure our border is secure and that we know exactly who is coming in and out of our country.”

Below are the following border security amendments that Hatch supported during today’s Judiciary Committee consideration of S. 744:

Grassley1 – Requires the application of border security strategies to all border sectors, not just those sectors identified as “high risk.”

Grassley4 – Requires the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to certify to Congress that DHS has maintained “effective control” over the entire southern border for six months before initiating the processing of Registered Provisional Immigrants.

Sessions9 – Requires the completion of the 700 miles of reinforced fencing as required by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996 prior to initiating the processing for RPIs.

Sessions11 – Takes step to prevent unlawful entries into the country by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics and other contraband.  It would require DHS show “effective control” of all aspects listed above prior to initiating the processing of RPIs.

Leahy4 – Would give DHS flexibility to use the $1.5 billion in fence funding as effectively as possible.

Cornyn1 – Amends and strengthens the border security provisions of the S. 744, some of which include putting the following triggers in place: Full situational awareness of every segment of the border and operational control of every sector of the southern border (at least a 90 percent apprehension rate) before Registered Provisional Immigrants could adjust to Legal Permanent Resident status.  The amendment also increases the number of Customs and Border Protection Officers by at least 10,000.

Lee4 – Requires Congressional approval at the introduction of the DHS strategies and at the certification of the strategies’ completion.

Submitted by: The Office of Sen. Orrin Hatch

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Image by Brett Barrett, St. George News
Image by Brett Barrett, St. George News

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