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Skriven 2006-04-24 23:33:12 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0604244) for Mon, 2006 Apr 24
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Fact Sheet: Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Securing Our Border
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 24, 2006

Fact Sheet: Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Securing Our Border


˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Immigration

Today's Presidential Action

Today, President Bush Discussed His Vision For Comprehensive Immigration
Reform. The President calls on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration
reform to secure our border, improve enforcement of our laws, meet the
needs of our economy, and uphold our highest values. The President also
discussed his proposal for a temporary worker program that rejects amnesty,
allows foreign workers to fill jobs that Americans are not willing to do,
and reduces illegal immigration, smuggling, and crime at the border.
  ū America's Heritage Of Immigration Continues To Shape Our Society. Our
    Nation is bound together by liberty and a conviction that all people
    are created with equal dignity and value. America is stronger and more
    dynamic when new citizens are welcomed. The President has called on
    Congress to increase the number of green cards that can lead to
    citizenship, and he supports increasing the number of visas available
    for foreign-born workers in highly skilled fields. New citizens have an
    obligation to learn the customs and values that define our Nation -
    including liberty and equality for all, respect for the beliefs of
    others, justice under the law, and the English language.

The President's Proposal For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Includes
Three Critical Elements - Securing The Border, Strengthening Enforcement
Inside The Country, And Creating A Temporary Worker Program. These elements
depend on and reinforce one another. Together, they will give America an
immigration system that meets 21st century demands.

Securing Our Border

President Bush Is Taking Action To Increase The Manpower, Technology, And
Infrastructure Needed To Secure The Nation's Border. Since President Bush
took office, funding for border security has increased by 66 percent. The
Border Patrol has been expanded to more than 12,000 agents, an increase of
more than 2,700 agents, or nearly 30 percent. The President's FY07 budget
funds another 1,500 new agents. Agents are being provided with cutting-edge
technology like infrared cameras, advanced motion sensors, and unmanned
aerial vehicles. Protective infrastructure, such as vehicle barriers and
fencing in urban areas, is being installed. Manpower, technology, and
infrastructure are being integrated in more coordinated ways than ever
before.
  ū The Administration's Border Security Strategy Is Getting Results. Since
    President Bush took office, agents have apprehended and sent home more
    than 6 million people entering the country illegally - including more
    than 400,000 with criminal records. Federal, State, local, and tribal
    law enforcement are working together. More than 600,000 illegal
    immigrants were apprehended through the Arizona Border Control
    Initiative last year - an increase of more than 50 percent over the
    previous year. The men and women of our Border Patrol have made good
    progress - but we have much more work ahead, and we will not be
    satisfied until our agents have full control of our border.
  ū The Administration Is Ending The Practice Of "Catch-And-Release." The
    President has set a goal to end "catch-and-release" over the next year.
    Most illegal immigrants from Mexico can be returned to Mexico within 24
    hours. Non-Mexican illegal immigrants present a different challenge.
    For decades, government detention facilities did not have enough beds
    for the non-Mexican illegal immigrants caught at the border - so most
    were released back into society. They were each assigned a court date,
    but virtually no one showed up. The Administration is ending the
    practice of "catch-and-release" by increasing the number of beds in
    detention facilities by 12 percent this year; the President's FY07
    budget proposes increasing that number by another 32 percent. The
    Administration is expanding the use of "expedited removal," which
    allows us to send non-Mexican illegal immigrants home more quickly.
      ū We Are Making Progress In This Effort. Last year, it took an
        average of 66 days to process a non-Mexican illegal immigrant. Now,
        the process is taking only 21 days. This has helped us end
        "catch-and-release" for illegal immigrants from Brazil, Guatemala,
        Honduras, and Nicaragua caught crossing our Southwest border. Since
        last summer, the total number of non-Mexican illegal immigrants
        released into society has been cut by more than a third. There is
        more work ahead, and the Administration will work with Congress to
        close loopholes that make it difficult to process illegal
        immigrants from certain countries and will continue pressing
        foreign governments like China to take back their citizens who
        enter our country illegally.

Strengthening Enforcement Of Immigration Laws In America's Interior

The President Is Providing Resources To Strengthen Enforcement Of
Immigration Laws. Since President Bush took office, funding for immigration
enforcement has increased by 42 percent. These resources have helped agents
bring to justice smugglers, terrorists, gang members, and human
traffickers. For example, through Operation Community Shield, Federal
agents have arrested nearly 2,300 gang members who were in America
illegally, including violent criminals like the members of the "MS-13"
gang.
  ū Better Interior Enforcement Requires Better Worksite Enforcement. Last
    year, President Bush signed legislation to more than double the
    resources dedicated to worksite enforcement. We are working to hold
    businesses accountable and crack down on document forgery. Next month,
    the Administration will launch new law enforcement task forces in 11
    cities to dismantle document fraud rings.

Creating A New Temporary Worker Program That Would Not Provide Amnesty

A Temporary Worker Program Would Make The System More Rational, Orderly,
And Secure By Providing A Legal Way To Match Willing Foreign Workers With
Willing American Employers To Fill Jobs That Americans Are Not Willing To
Do. Workers would be able to register for legal status on a temporary
basis. If workers decided to apply for citizenship, they would have to get
in line. This program would help meet the demands of our growing economy
and allow honest workers to provide for their families while respecting the
law.
  ū A Temporary Worker Program Is Vital To Securing The Border. Creating a
    separate, legal channel for those entering America to do an honest
    day's work would dramatically reduce the number of people attempting to
    sneak across the border. That would help take pressure off the border
    and free up law enforcement to focus on the greatest threats to our
    security - terrorists, drug dealers, and other criminals. The program
    would also improve security by creating tamper-proof identification
    cards that would allow authorities to keep track of every legal
    temporary worker, while making it more difficult for illegal immigrants
    to evade the law.
  ū A Temporary Worker Program Should Not Provide Amnesty. Granting amnesty
    would be unfair because it would allow those who break the law to jump
    ahead of people who play by the rules and wait in the citizenship line.
    Amnesty would also encourage future waves of illegal immigration,
    increase pressure on the border, and make it more difficult for law
    enforcement to focus on those who mean us harm. For the sake of justice
    and the sake of border security, the President firmly opposes amnesty.

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