Legislative update – Congressman Bob Goodlatte

Enforcement is the First Step in Immigration Reform
In the weeks since President Trump signed Executive Orders making sense of our nation’s immigration enforcement priorities, the combination of revised priorities and actual enforcement has yielded significant results. While some said that trying to control our borders was simply tilting at windmills, the realization that the Department of Homeland Security will actually enforce our immigration laws has made individuals think twice about violating our borders and immigration laws. But these promising signs must be accompanied by Congress providing immigration officers with the additional tools they need to do their jobs.

The Davis-Oliver Act, named after two law enforcement officers who were murdered by an unlawful immigrant in October 2014, was recently introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Raul Labrador. The Davis-Oliver Act delivers the tools needed to enforce our laws in the way Congress always intended, crack down on dangerous sanctuary city policies, and protect American communities from unlawful immigrants who commit crimes in the United States. In an effort to help bolster enforcement efforts, the bill also calls for the hiring of an additional 12,500 immigration officers. Click here to read more about the bill in my weekly column.

The House Judiciary Committee, which I chair, has already begun consideration of the Davis-Oliver Act, and I look forward to sending this important bill to the House for a vote.

Any immigration reform must start with enforcement. Unfortunately, many families have lost loved ones due to lax immigration enforcement. We are all too familiar with the consequences of turning a blind eye to America’s immigration laws – we’ve seen it in cities like San Francisco as well as communities in our own backyard. Congress has a duty to all Americans to provide the tools necessary to strengthen public safety and the rule of law. The Davis-Oliver Act is not the end of the Judiciary Committee’s efforts to improve our nation’s immigration system, but it is a critical first step.

In Case You Missed It — Reps. Goodlatte, Labrador: Immigration reform starts with US enforcing its own laws

PASSED: A bill passed by the House extends federal recognition to the Monacan Indian Nation in Amherst County. Click here for more.

Special Counsel Appointed
On Wednesday evening, Former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the FBI’s investigation of Russia’s efforts to influence the U.S. election. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made the right decision by appointing a special counsel to oversee the FBI’s investigation. Mueller is a well-respected law enforcement professional who served the FBI for a dozen years under both Democratic and Republican presidents. I am confident that he will serve with integrity and professionalism, and will conduct a thorough and fair investigation.

I applaud the Trump Administration for taking this important step that the previous Administration repeatedly declined to do in other matters, ensuring an independent and thorough investigation is conducted to unearth all the facts. This decision will help instill much needed public confidence in the investigation.

Should you have further questions, please visit the “Contact Bob” section of my website or call (202) 225-5431.