Goodlatte applauds Trump Administration efforts to prosecute all illegal border crossers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) today applauded the decision from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen that DHS will refer all illegal border crossers for criminal prosecution:

“I commend Secretary Nielsen for taking action in conjunction with Attorney General Sessions to restore the rule of law at our nation’s borders and ports of entry by announcing that all illegal border crossers flouting the law will be referred for prosecution. The Trump Administration’s zero-tolerance policy for illegal entry and re-entry sends the strong message to the world that our immigration laws will be enforced and illegal immigration will not be tolerated. However, loopholes in our laws that encourage illegal immigration must also be closed if we are to secure our nation’s borders and restore the integrity of our immigration system.

“The Securing America’s Future Act, which I introduced with Chairman McCaul and Representatives Labrador and McSally earlier this year, takes a number of steps to ensure our immigration laws are enforced. It aims to reduce the number of people who overstay the terms of their visas, prevents fraud and abuse in the asylum system, and provides the authority to ensure unaccompanied minors are safely and quickly returned home. The Trump Administration needs the tools contained in the Securing America’s Future Act to help its efforts to secure the border. With these tools, our nation will be able to more effectively fight illegal immigration. I continue to work with Members of Congress on fine-tuning the Securing America’s Future Act and with House Leadership to schedule a vote on this bill soon.”

Additional Background: Earlier this year, Chairman Goodlatte, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), House Judiciary Committee Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho), and House Homeland Security Committee Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee Chairwoman Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) introduced the Securing America’s Future Act (H.R. 4760). This bill bolsters enforcement of existing immigration law, makes important reforms to our legal immigration programs, secures the border, and provides a legislative solution for the current beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.