Senate Votes Against Enforcement Before Amnesty
In two separate votes today, the Senate voted to prioritize an amnesty for the nation's 11 million illegal aliens over enforcement of existing laws. Amendments offered by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) were defeated mostly along a party-line vote. Both amendments would have required the federal government to enforce laws already on the books before granting amnesty.
Thune amendment #1197 would have required the federal government to complete 350 miles of reinforced, double-layered fencing along the southwest border of Mexico before illegal aliens could be given Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status. The amendment would have also required another 350 miles of fencing to be constructed before they could adjust from RPI status to green cards. The fencing requirement was madated in the Secure Fence Act of 2006. The amendment failed 39-to-54.
"Our immigration system is broken and must be fixed," said Thune. "Unfortunately, each time Congress has tried to fix our immigration system, promises to secure our border are never upheld. The completion of the fence required by current law would be a tangible demonstration that Congress and this administration are serious about border security. I am disappointed the Senate missed this important opportunity to communicate to the American people that we are serious about securing our border and enforcing the laws that we pass."
Vitter amendment #1228 would have required the federal government to complete the biometric entry/exit system at all ports of entry before illegal aliens could receive RPI status. The entry/exit system was mandated in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. The amendment failed 36-to-58.