Prepared Floor Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee
Comprehensive Immigration Reform, s.744
Why the Border Needs to be Secured, the Danger of Some Border Crossings
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
I talked a bit yesterday about my amendment, which is pending. I’d like to take a few minutes to discuss why I think my amendment is a good first step at restoring the faith of the American people in the government. I’d also like to talk about why it’s so important – not just for public confidence – but for national security and the defense of the homeland.
Being a US Border Patrol agent is as dangerous job. A former agent said in an interview, “I was attacked one time by a group of seven men with rocks, and I was pretty severely injured. Being assaulted is not really that uncommon. Whether it's rocks being thrown at you or a hand-to-hand combat situation or being shot at, it's not particularly uncommon.”
We need a bill that will protect our border patrol agents who put their lives on the line every day and do their job of patrolling the border. They face threats and violence, and some, like Brian Terry, have been killed because of gang violence or drug cartels.
Not only do our border patrol agents face danger, but ranchers face daily encounters of drug smugglers and illegal border crossers. Robert Krentz from Arizona, a rancher, was killed in 2010. His family expressed frustration with the federal government, stating, “The disregard of our repeated pleas and warnings of impending violence towards our community fell on deaf ears shrouded in political correctness. As a result, we have paid the ultimate price for their negligence in credibly securing our borderlands.”
No one can fault someone for wanting to improve their lot in life. Husbands and wives trek across the border to make a better life for their kids. People yearn to be free and to make a life full of liberty and happiness.
But, people who cross the border illegally risk their own lives. They spend days walking through the desert. They fall prey to smugglers, and become victims of rape and abuse. Securing the border is one of the most humane things we can do to protect their lives. We can give them legal avenues to enter this country to live, work and raise a family. If we don’t deter illegal border crossings, people’s lives will remain at risk.
Nonetheless, proponents of legalization hold to the belief that the vast majority of people who cross our borders are people seeking employment. Many times, that’s true. However, not everyone who crosses the southern border is a resident of Mexico that seeks to reunite with family and take jobs that Americans won’t do.
The number of individuals from noncontiguous countries – otherwise known as Other Than Mexicans or OTMs --- should be a concern. As of April 2, 2013, the OTM numbers on the southwest border were up 67 percent from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2013. We know that some of the OTMs include terrorists who enter the United States via the southern border. Secretary Napolitano has testified before Congress to that fact.
We also know that a majority of OTMs fail to appear for their immigration proceedings and simply disappear into the United States. Increasing bonds for these nationals would deter absconders, assist CBP and ICE in covering detention and removal costs, or at minimum, provide a disincentive to cross. Unfortunately, an amendment during the Judiciary Committee mark-up to raise the bonds for OTMs failed.
Many common sense amendments were defeated during the committee process. And, many amendments to beef up the border will be considered in the days ahead.
As I have said before, the bill before us only requires that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit a plan to Congress before millions of people are legalized. There’s little regard for the need to better secure our border. They say we’ve done enough. The Secretary says the border is more secure than ever before. They say that border security shouldn’t stand in the way of legalization.
My amendment is a good first step to stopping the flow of illegal immigration. It sends a signal that we’re serious about getting the job done. For the Secretary to simply submit a plan to Congress is only worth the paper upon which it is printed. We need to take action, and we need to make it a priority.
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