News Release

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) this week voted for three bills to strengthen our borders. “Whatever we do about immigration, we first have to secure our borders and control who enters our country,” Spratt said.

In the past six years, Spratt has voted for a number of bills to secure the border.  The bills are listed on the web at this link: http://www.house.gov/spratt/immigration.htm

Spratt voted for the following three bills this week:

Border Tunnel Prevention Act, HR 4830 – The bill creates new criminal penalties for constructing illegal tunnels under the U.S. border, and doubles penalties for smuggling illegal immigrants, drugs, weapons of mass destruction, or other illegal items if done through an illegal tunnel.

Community Protection Act, HR 6094 – The bill allows the Homeland Security Department to detain indefinitely illegal immigrants who cannot be returned to their native country, changing the current six-month maximum on such detentions. It also prohibits gang members from being admitted into the United States, and makes certain gang members subject to deportation.

Immigration Law Enforcement Act, HR 6095 – The bill declares that state and local law enforcement officers have the "inherent authority" to apprehend illegal immigrants and transfer them to federal custody, and directs the Justice Department to hire more attorneys to prosecute alien smuggling cases.

The House approved all three bills.

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