Immigration Enforcement Unions Oppose Flawed Entry/Exit Bill, H.R.3141
The unions that represent Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Citizenship and Immigration Service employees have voiced their opposition to H.R.3141, the Biometric Exit Improvement Act of 2013. Both Unions presidents have sent letters to Members of Congress and the Border Security Subcommittee Chairwoman, Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.), expressing their opposition to the legislation.
"While H.R. 3141 sets deadlines for implementation of the system at air, sea, and pedestrian land ports, nothing is included that would actually compel any administration to comply with the law. The current Administration has already made it clear that enforcing the immigration laws enacted by Congress is not an administrative priority, forcing our officers and agents to act in direct violation of the law," said ICE Union President Chris Crane.
"The current legislation has no teeth in it and does not even address concerns of 17 years ago when it was first required by Congress, as enforcement of current immigration laws is frowned upon by the current Administration, said USCIS Union President Kenneth Palinkas.
H.R.3141 weakens current immigration law by requiring DHS to implement a biometric entry/exit system within 5 years. Under current law, however, DHS is already required to implement a biometric entry/exit system, so many believe the Administration will simply continue to ignore the mandate. Furthermore, H.R.3141 exempts non-pedestrian land borders from the mandate, while current law requires the system to be implemented at all ports of entry. Approximately 25% of all foreign citizens enter and exit the country via non-pedestrian land borders.