By Congressman Blake Farenthold
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. -- On Juy 1 32-year-old Kate Steinle was gunned down in San Francisco while on a walk with her dad at a popular San Francisco tourist spot. Kate was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant with seven felony arrests who had been deported half a dozen times.
Last summer Border Patrol Agent Javier Vega Jr. was gunned down in Willacy County by two illegals one of whom had been deported four times. These are two tragic examples of why the President needs to secure our border and reverse his executive actions that are a leading cause of people entering our country illegally.
It is also why I am co-sponsoring the Secure Our Borders First Act as well as Kates Law which would create a five year mandatory minimum sentence for any illegal alien caught reentering the country after having been deported. Additionally I am a cosponsor of H.R. 3009 which would prevent federal law enforcement funds from going to cities which consciously choose to not enforce immigration laws commonly referred to as sanctuary cities.
I also voted in favor of an immigration enforcement bill brought to the House by Representative Trey Gowdy of South Carolina which defunds President Obamas executive amnesty measures. There cannot be a meaningful conversation about immigration until we secure the border and begin to enforce the immigration laws already on the books.
Bring Border Security to a Vote
Last Friday I and several of my colleagues sent a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner urging him to immediately bring border security legislation to the House floor for a vote. One of the Presidents greatest failures has been his unwillingness to secure the border.
I will continue to fight to secure our borders and implement common sense policies aimed at reducing violence and the flow of illegal narcotics firearms and money across our borders. When over tens of thousands of children can easily cross our border the notion of a secure border is a joke. We cant afford to continue ignoring this dangerous threat to our national security. If the President wont get serious about protecting our borders then members of Congress and the states must step forward and address this crisis.
