In the past week and a half the House has passed 5 separate immigration related bills. From cracking down on fraudulent voting by illegal aliens to building a 700 miles fence along our southern border. Below is a recap of these bills.

On September 14, 2006 the House Passed 700 Mile Border Fence - Secure Fence Act of 2006 (HR 6061)

With the election coming up some Representatives are just doing this for homeland security and immigration points at the voting booth. I personally don't care why they are doing it as long as it gets done.

The 700 miles of fence includes:

• 361 miles from Calexico, California to Douglas, Arizona


• 176 miles from Laredo to Brownsville, Texas


• 51 miles from Del Rio to Eagle Pass, Texas


• 88 miles from El Paso, Texas to Columbus, New Mexico


• 22 miles in Tecate, California near San Diego

I followed the debate in the House
You can see how your Representative voted

The Senate then took up the bill and I covered the debate on cloture.
The Senate approved cloture on the bill and it will probably be approved and sent to the President this coming week.

On September 20, 2006 debated and passed the Federal Election Integrity Act (HR 4844)

This bill requires a government issued photo ID in order to vote. It would be put in place by the November 2008 Presidential election.

Those against it are claiming it's a poll tax on the poor, minorities and elderly and that they can't afford to get a drivers license or passport. They fail to mention that the bill includes a portion to pay for free for the poor who can't afford a photo ID.

I covered the debate opinions and the final vote where it passed.

On September 21, 2006 the House took up 3 immigration and border protection bills. All three of them passed, though some were more controversial than others.

House Approves Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2006 (HR 4830)

This bill sets minimum sentencing for those caught tunneling from the United States to another country. It also sets minimum sentences for those allowing their land to be used for tunneling or those financing the tunneling.

Sentencing is no less than 20 years for the builders of the tunnel and 10 years for the land owners who allow it or finance it. The sentencing is doubled for smugglers of illegal aliens, goods, controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction or a member of a terrorist organization.

During the debate the whole issue at hand seemed ignored by the Democrats where they continued to assail the single bills being passed and whined about them not being part of a comprehensive immigration reform package with a guest worker program. They then voted on the bill where the House passed the bill by a unanimous vote.

House Approves Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 (HR 6095)

This bill allows state and local law enforcement to aid in enforcing Federal immigration laws. In addition it increases immigration attorneys for prosecution. It also kills favorite status for El Salvadoran illegal aliens, something that has remained in place for decades for no reason.

I covered the bill here and you can see the results of who voted for and against the bill when the House approved it.

House Approves The Community Protection Act of 2006 (HR 6094)

Also known as the Dangerous Alien Detention Act Of 2006, this bill cracks down on illegal aliens tied to gangs and terrorism. The bill allows for the detention of these thugs until their case comes up rather then releasing them with a date to appear. It also allows for the removal of the dangerous alien to their country even if their life or freedom may be threatened there and deny them an asylum claim.

I covered the bill prior to vote.

You can see how your Congress member voted when the bill was approved.