WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The House today by overwhelming margins approved three bills aimed at securing the border and taking dangerous criminal immigrants off the streets. The House approved H.R. 6094, the "Community Protection Act of 2006," by a 328-to-95 vote; H.R. 6095, the "Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006," by a 277-to-140 vote; and H.R. 4830, the "Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006," by a 422-to-0 margin.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.), who introduced H.R. 6094 and 6095, stated, "The American people are frustrated that our borders are not secure and our immigration laws are not being adequately enforced. They want -- and deserve action. Today, the House again heard their call by passing legislation that will have an immediate impact on our efforts to secure the border and take dangerous criminal immigrants off the streets. I'm hopeful that my colleagues in the Senate will take notice of the public's wishes and the overwhelming support for these measures by not continuing to stand in the way of these needed measures."
Highlights of H.R. 6094, the "Community Protection Act of 2006"
-- Detaining dangerous immigrants - ensures that dangerous immigrants who cannot be deported will not be released onto U.S. streets. Because of recent rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, 696 high-risk immigrants were released into U.S. communities in the first six months of 2005, according to the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General.
-- Expedited removal of criminal immigrants -- allows for expedited removal of criminal immigrants who have no avenues for relief. Currently, these criminal immigrants are placed in lengthy removal proceedings, wasting resources and causing other illegal immigrants to be released.
-- Detaining and deporting immigrant gang members -- allows for the detention and removal of immigrants who are members of violent criminal gangs.
Highlights of H.R. 6095, the "Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006"
-- Affirming State and local law enforcement may voluntarily enforce immigration law -- clarify that if State or local law enforcement believe their streets would be safer by their helping enforce the immigration laws, they have that authority.
-- Cracking down on human smugglers -- authorizes increase in Assistant U.S. Attorneys tasked with prosecuting human smuggling cases and expressing the sense of Congress that the Attorney General should establish uniform guidelines for the prosecution of human smugglers.
-- Implementing "catch and return" -- outdated injunctions prevent some illegal immigrants from being quickly returned to their home country. This provision would allow the use of expedited removal for these illegal immigrants.
Highlights of H.R. 4830, the "Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006"
-- Tough penalties for construction border tunnels -- currently it is not a crime to construct a tunnel under the border. This bill would create criminal penalties of up to 20 years in prison for constructing or financing an unauthorized border tunnel.