Washington, D.C. - Third District Representative Walter B. Jones is a cosponsor of H. Res. 499 – a resolution introduced by Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX) which calls for the full enforcement of all immigration laws to substantially reduce illegal immigration and improve border security.

"Our government has legitimized the presence of illegal immigrants by allowing banks to intentionally grant them bank accounts, failing to prosecute 98% of the illegal immigrants stopped at the border, and not enforcing sanctions on employers who hire illegal immigrants," Congressman Jones said.

“Unfortunately, this lack of enforcement lets illegal immigrants know they can wrongfully take advantage of government benefits paid for by American taxpayers,” Jones said. “I urge the Administration to help stop the flood of illegal immigration by immediately enforcing the provisions outlined in this resolution.”

The resolution calls on the Administration to:

- comply with the Secure Fence Act of 2006 by building over 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border;

- reverse the Treasury Department's decision to allow financial institutions to accept the Mexican matricula consular cards as valid identification for the purpose of opening bank accounts;

- enforce the employer sanctions enacted as part of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986;

- enforce section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which prohibits in-State college tuition for illegal immigrants;

- require prosecution of anyone caught smuggling immigrants across the border illegally irrespective of how many immigrants are being smuggled;

- increase the number of full-time Border Patrol agents by at least 1,306, the number of detention beds for illegal immigrants by at least 15,944, and the number of full-time immigration investigators by at least 1,600 by the end of fiscal year 2007 as authorized by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004;

- increase the use of expedited removal procedures for all illegal immigrants eligible for expedited removal under United States immigration laws; and

- end the practice of catching illegal immigrants at the border and returning them without prosecution.

For additional information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.