WASHINGTON – The united States Senate advanced Comprehensive immigration reform Wednesday in approving an amendment on border security.
The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act states that passage of this act recognizes that the primary tenets of its success depend on securing U.S. sovereignty and establishing a coherent and just system for integrating those who seek to join American society.
The bill directs the government to implement: (1) a Comprehensive Southern Border Security Strategy for achieving control between the ports of entry in all high-risk sectors along the Southern border, and (2) a Southern Border Fencing Strategy to identify where fencing and technology should be deployed along the Southern border.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley voted against the bill.
“Not only is the amendment before us loaded with provisions that some would call earmarks, but it continues to promote false promises that the border will be truly secured,” Senator Grassley said. “You get the impression from the authors debating the amendment that tomorrow we’re going to have a secure border. That’s not going to happen.”
Iowa Senator Tom Harkin voted in favor.
“The Senate passage of immigration bill reforms a current broken system, provides a path to citizenship for millions & boosts economic growth,” Harkin tweeted Thursday.
The bill prohibits the government from adjusting registered provisional immigrant status aliens to lawful permanent resident status, with certain exceptions, until the Secretary of Homeland Security certifies to the President and Congress that: (1) the Comprehensive Southern Border Security Strategy is substantially deployed and operational, (2) the Southern Border Fencing Strategy is substantially completed, (3) a mandatory employment verification system to be used by all employers to prevent unauthorized workers from obtaining U.S. employment has been implemented, and (4) an electronic exit system at air and sea ports of entry that operates by collecting machine-readable visa or passport information from air and vessel carriers is in use.
Under the bill, about 20,000 additional border patrol agents will be deployed and construction of 700 miles of fencing will commence.
