Government Security News
By Steve Bittenbender
August 11, 2015
Republican
presidential candidate Jeb Bush unveiled on Monday a proposal to tackle
immigration issues, saying any plan that addresses amnesty for illegal
aliens must also
come with a “robust strategy to improve border security.”
The
former Florida governor, who is seeking to be the third member of his
family to win election to the nation’s highest office in 27 years,
outlined his strategy in a
post on his campaign Web site, ahead of the first GOP primary debate
scheduled for Thursday. Any proposal, he said, would require ending
partisan rancor in Congress.
“We must transform immigration from a broken system into one that benefits every American,” he said.
Like
fellow candidate Sen. Lindsey Graham, Bush calls for a system that
enables illegal immigrants currently living here to learn English and
pay appropriate taxes and
fines, among other things, in order to achieve legal status. But
providing that without a plan to address the border concerns is a
nonstarter for him, he said.
Bush’s
plan is broken down into two sections. One deals with physical aspects
of securing and patrolling the border. The other, called “interior
enforcement,” focuses
on reforming immigration issues.
On
immigration, Bush called for mandating electronic verification to
determine if a job applicant is eligible for employment. Adding, that a
strong E-Verify system would
reduce illegal immigration by reducing their opportunities for jobs.
Currently, how employers can use E-Verify varies from state to state,
with only Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Utah requiring it for most or all
new hires.
Bush
also focused on the government to fix problems associated with visas,
namely people who enter legally but let their visa lapse and become
illegal immigrants. Other
GOP hopefuls were quick to join in on the subject at a candidate forum
Monday in New Hampshire. Considered a prelude to Thursday’s debate,
former Texas Gov. Rick Perry joined Bush in calling for more stringent
enforcement of deporting those whose visas have
expired.
Immigration
activists, though, say that illegal immigration is tapering off. A
report from the Pew Research Center shows that 11.3 million people
living in the United
States last year were undocumented aliens. That’s down nearly a million
from a decade ago.
Frank
Sharry, executive director of the immigration rights group America’s
Voice, said in a tweet the US-Mexican border “is more secure than ever.”
In
his plan, Bush called on using a biometric system to help determine
whether or not someone has left the country. He isn’t the only one
calling for that type of technology
to be used for Homeland Security purposes. Last week, the new
administrator for the Transportation Security Administration said he
would like to see a biometric solution replace existing boarding passes
for airlines.
Lastly,
Bush said he would withhold federal funding for “sanctuary cities,”
localities that he said undermine federal immigration laws and become
safe havens for illegals
who cross again after being deported.
In
fixing the border, Bush said he wants to reduce regulations that make
it more difficult for federal agents to access government-owned land
adjacent to the Mexican border.
He also said agencies need to shift their focus to a “forward-leaning”
strategy by stationing their agents in positions for multiple-day
shifts, similar to the schedules run by fire departments.
Technology
also must play a part in securing the border and should be used in
concert with fencing and other barriers. Drones and radar can help
border agents identify
and track illegal immigrant activity as well as drug smuggling, human
trafficking and other illegal behaviors.
“In
order to apprehend a person, you first have to know when and where a
crossing occurs,” Bush said. “That is one of the biggest problems right
now—we do not have enough
surveillance on the border and we are being beaten without knowing it.”
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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