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˜ Ben Nelson
Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson voted for the Secure Fence Act (H.R. 6061) today to secure the southern U.S. border with a 700 mile fence and other security measures. The legislation passed 80-19.
“A year ago I introduced my border security first vision,” said Nelson. “I’m pleased that we are working toward this goal and only disappointed that we’ve waited so long to enact this border security measure.”
The Secure Fence Act directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate actions to achieve operational control over the U.S. border by providing 700 miles of at least two layers of reinforced fencing, systematic border surveillance (unmanned aerial vehicles, ground-based sensors, satellites, radar coverage, and cameras) and physical infrastructure enhancements to prevent unlawful border entry and facilitate border access by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Last fall, Nelson set out to change the way Washington approached illegal immigration by introducing a bipartisan border security first bill that separates the issues and makes it possible to move forward on securing the border first. Senator Nelson’s comprehensive border security bill:
Increases the number of Border Patrol agents by 3,000 each year until 2011. Adds 5,000 immigration enforcement agents dedicated to fraud detection. Extends the southwest border fence, creating a 100 yard border zone controlled by the Department of Homeland Security. Increases detention space by 50% for a combined capacity of 10,000 new beds. Implements a verification system so that all employers can verify that their workers are authorized to work in the U.S. Increases penalties for alien smuggling and drug trafficking.
“Securing our border is a national security imperative,” said Nelson. “We cannot allow the borders to remain open and I’m proud of today’s action.”
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