Rep. Royce Introduces Border and Interior Enforcement Bill
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) has introduced a bill that would increase border security and strengthen interior enforcement. The Keeping the Pledge on Immigration Act of 2011 (H.R.1274) requires the Administration to deploy national guard troops to the border and includes the CLEAR Act that requires cooperation between the federal government and state and local law agencies in the enforcement of immigration laws.
Among the bill's numerous provisions, this legislation would:
- provide up to 4,000 additional national guard troops patrolling the southern border;
- reaffirm language mandating “operational control” of the border as defined in the 2006 Secure Fence Act;
- provide double and even triple layer fencing by September 30, 2014;
- organize rapid deployment unites to respond to UAE and radar detection alerts;
- complete of the automated exit control system by September 30, 2015; and
- provide additional visa security screening for high risk visas including in-person interviews and data sharing.
The bill was introduced with four original co-sponsors, including Reps. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), Sue Myrick (R-N.C.), and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.). House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith was also an original co-sponsor.
Rep. Royce represents California's 40th Congressional District. He has been serving in the House since 1993 and has earned a career A grade.
For more details on the bill, click here.