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Fixing our broken immigration system |
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May 27, 2017 |
By U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador
Since I was first elected to Congress in 2010, I
have advocated for fixing our broken immigration
system. In addition, I have frequently stated
that the most important step in completing that
process is getting serious about enforcing
existing law.
America is our home, and the American people
expect Congress and the Administration to do all
that we can to keep our communities safe and
secure. For too long, we have allowed
individuals to enter our country illegally and
in too many cases do us harm.
When he was in office, President Obama refused
to enforce our immigration laws. And by failing
in his Constitutional duty to uphold the law, he
diminished the strength of the United States.
Fortunately, President Trump is taking a
different approach. In fact, President Trump
owes his position to the promise he made to the
American people to get serious about enforcing
our laws. I want to do everything I can help the
President keep that promise.
This month, I introduced new legislation, the
Davis-Oliver Act, which will ensure that
America’s laws will be enforced, no matter who
is in the White House.
The bill is named after two California officers,
Placer County Detective Michael Davis, Jr. and
Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver.
Davis and Oliver were murdered by an illegal
immigrant in October 2014.
The Davis-Oliver Act is intended to ensure that
other families do not suffer as victims of
crimes committed by individuals who should not
be allowed in our country in the first place.
Specifically, the bill improves the enforcement
of immigration laws to enhance public safety,
adds tools to crack down on dangerous sanctuary
city policies, and contains needed changes to
protect American communities from illegal
immigrants who commit crimes in the United
States.
The Davis-Oliver Act removes the ability of any
President to unilaterally shut down immigration
enforcement by allowing states and localities to
participate in the enforcement of immigration
laws. Furthermore, it protects national security
by improving our nation’s first line of defense
- the visa issuance process - and provides
thorough screening of foreign nationals seeking
to enter the U.S.
This week, the House Judiciary Committee
approved the Davis-Oliver Act and I’m hopeful it
will get a vote on the House floor soon. It’s a
first and necessary step in the process of
fixing our broken immigration system.
While more needs to be done, this bill is vital
to a long-term fix, and I look forward to
working with House Judiciary Chairman Bob
Goodlatte on additional steps.
To read a summary of the Davis-Oliver Act,
click here. |
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