Virginia's Representative Goode's Concurrent Resolution asking President Bush to enforce immigration laws
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 119
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should immediately and unequivocally call for the enforcement of existing immigration laws in order to reduce the threat of a terrorist attack and to reduce the massive influx of illegal aliens into the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 18, 2007
Mr. GOODE submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should immediately and unequivocally call for the enforcement of existing immigration laws in order to reduce the threat of a terrorist attack and to reduce the massive influx of illegal aliens into the United States. Whereas a primary duty of the Federal Government is to secure the homeland and ensure the safety of United States citizens and lawful residents; Whereas as a result of the attacks on this country on September 11, 2001, perpetrated by al Qaida terrorists on United States soil, the United States is engaged in a global war on terrorism; Whereas almost 6 years after those attacks, there is still a failure to secure the borders of the United States against illegal entry; Whereas the failure to enforce immigration laws in the interior means that illegal aliens face little or no risk of apprehension or removal once they are in the country; Whereas the Government of Mexico actively encourages illegal immigration to the United States by, among other things, publishing `how to’ books and urging State and local entities to accept the matricula consular as valid identification; Whereas granting amnesty to illegal aliens, or even proposing legislation or efforts for amnesty for illegal aliens, serves only to generate more illegal immigration; Whereas if illegal aliens can enter and remain in the United States with impunity, so, too, can terrorists enter and remain while they plan, rehearse, and then carry out their attacks; and Whereas the failure to control and to prevent illegal immigration into the United States increases the likelihood that terrorists will succeed in launching catastrophic or harmful attacks on United States soil: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That—
- the President and the Secretary of Homeland Security should immediately use every tool available to them to secure the borders against illegal entry;
- the President should announce publicly that he will oppose any proposal to grant legal status, or amnesty, to illegal aliens and that he and the Secretary of Homeland Security will use every tool available to stop illegal immigration into the United States and to announce efforts for the removal of illegal aliens from the United States;
- the President and the Secretary of Homeland Security should seek the assistance of State and local law enforcement personnel in enforcing immigration laws, whether through formal agreements to cooperate or through the elimination of sanctuary policies; and
- the President and the Secretary of State should warn Mexico that any further actions it takes to encourage illegal immigration to the United States will be viewed as interference with our domestic laws, in violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
END
Ed Note by Rense Johnson, Chairman, Citizens for Term Limits:
This reflects a scandalous six-year refusal by our President to enforce immigration law already on the books. Peggy Noonan said “President Bush has torn the conservative coalition asunder.” This at a time when Americans are hoping to elect a conservative candidate in 2008. Selective enforcement of the laws that only please the President constitute encroachment upon the constitutional duties of the Congress. Sadly for the President, at a time when his tax cuts have brought high employment and prosperity to the nation, with a soaring stock market, for which he deserves much credit, he has thrown it all away by tearing the conservative coalition asunder. And that will be the legacy of his administration.
