Text 3499, 99 rader
Skriven 2006-10-26 23:31:14 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0610261) for Thu, 2006 Oct 26
====================================================

===========================================================================
Fact Sheet: The Secure Fence Act of 2006
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 26, 2006

Fact Sheet: The Secure Fence Act of 2006


ÿÿÿÿÿ President Bush Signs Secure Fence Act ÿÿÿÿÿ In Focus: Homeland
Security ÿÿÿÿÿ

"This bill will help protect the American people. This bill will make our
borders more secure. It is an important step toward immigration reform."

- President George W. Bush, 10/26/06

Today, President Bush Signed The Secure Fence Act - An Important Step
Forward In Our Nation's Efforts To Control Our Borders And Reform Our
Immigration System. Earlier this year, the President laid out a strategy
for comprehensive immigration reform. The Secure Fence Act is one part of
this reform, and the President will work with Congress to finish the job
and pass the remaining elements of this strategy.

The Secure Fence Act Builds On Progress Securing The Border

By Making Wise Use Of Physical Barriers And Deploying 21st Century
Technology, We Can Help Our Border Patrol Agents Do Their Job And Make Our
Border More Secure. The Secure Fence Act:
  þ Authorizes the construction of hundreds of miles of additional fencing
    along our Southern border;
  þ Authorizes more vehicle barriers, checkpoints, and lighting to help
    prevent people from entering our country illegally;
  þ Authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to increase the use of
    advanced technology like cameras, satellites, and unmanned aerial
    vehicles to reinforce our infrastructure at the border.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Begins With Securing The Border. Since
President Bush took office, we have:
  þ More than doubled funding for border security - from $4.6 billion in
    2001 to $10.4 billion this year;
  þ Increased the number of Border Patrol agents from about 9,000 to more
    than 12,000 - and by the end of 2008, we will have doubled the number
    of Border Patrol agents since the President took office;
  þ Deployed thousands of National Guard members to assist the Border
    Patrol;
  þ Upgraded technology at our borders and added infrastructure, including
    new fencing and vehicle barriers;
  þ Apprehended and sent home more than 6 million people entering America
    illegally; and
  þ We are adding thousands of new beds in our detention facilities, so we
    can continue working to end "catch and release" at our Southern border.

This Act Is One Part Of Our Effort To Reform Our Immigration System, And We
Have More Work To Do

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Requires That We Enforce Our Immigration
Laws Inside America. It is against the law to knowingly hire illegal
workers, so the Administration has stepped up worksite enforcement. Many
businesses want to obey the law, but cannot verify the legal status of
their employees because of the widespread problem of document fraud, so the
President has also called on Congress to create a better system for
verifying documents and work eligibility.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Requires That We Reduce The Pressure On
Our Border By Creating A Lawful Path For Foreign Workers To Enter Our
Country On A Temporary Basis. A temporary worker program would meet the
needs of our economy, reduce the appeal of human smugglers, make it less
likely that people would risk their lives to cross the border, and ease the
financial burden on State and local governments by replacing illegal
workers with lawful taxpayers. Above all, a temporary worker program would
add to our security by making certain we know who is in our country and why
they are here.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Requires That We Face The Reality That
Millions Of Illegal Immigrants Are Here Already. The President opposes
amnesty but believes there is a rational middle ground between granting an
automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program of
mass deportation. Illegal immigrants who have roots in our country and want
to stay should have to pay a meaningful penalty for breaking the law, pay
their taxes, learn English, work in a job for a number of years, and wait
in line behind those who played by the rules and followed the law.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Requires That We Honor The Great American
Tradition Of The Melting Pot. Americans are bound together by our shared
ideals, an appreciation of our history, respect for the flag we fly, and an
ability to speak and write the English language. When immigrants assimilate
and advance in our society, they realize their dreams, renew our spirit,
and add to the unity of America.

# # #
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061026-1.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)