House Passes Border Security Bill; New York County Passes Tough Immigration Law
DOBBS: Congressman James Sensenbrenner and fellow House Republicans are on the U.S. border with Mexico tonight. They're there to discuss border security measures they promised and delivered to the American people. Another tough new local law is on the books tonight, threatening importers with jail time if they hire illegal aliens. Casey Wian tonight reports from Otay Mesa, California, where House Republicans are declaring an important victory on border security. And Christine Romans reports on Suffolk County, Long Island, New York's tough new crackdown on employers who ignore this nation's immigration laws. We begin tonight with Casey Wian -- Casey.</s>CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lou, under this warehouse behind me is a drug-smuggling tunnel that stretches 700 yards into Mexico underneath the border. It's the longest tunnel of its kind ever discovered. Lawmakers came here today to announce a victory in their effort to pressure President Bush to secure the border.</s>WIAN (voice-over): For more than two years, President Bush insisted the only way to secure the border was with so-called comprehensive immigration reform, including a guest worker program critics say announced an amnesty for illegal aliens. Today, the president capitulated, signing a border security only bill.</s>BUSH: This legislation will give us better tools to enforce our immigration laws and to secure our southern border.</s>WIAN: The legislation includes $1.2 billion for new border fencing, vehicle barriers, technology and infrastructure; $2.8 billion for the Border Patrol, including 1,500 new Border Patrol agents; $1.4 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to add 6,700 new detention beds.</s>REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R-WI), CHAIRMAN, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Today we are here to say that Congress has heard the American people. And with the Homeland Security Appropriation Bill which was signed this morning in Arizona by President Bush, we have taken major steps towards securing the border and putting our money where our mouth is.</s>WIAN: And it increases criminal penalties for those involved in constructing drug-smuggling tunnels under the border.</s>REP. ED ROYCE (R), CALIFORNIA: With this new legislation, to tunnel into the United States becomes a felony crime.</s>WIAN: The man who pleaded guilty to running a produce business out of this warehouse as a front for the drug smuggling tunnel is expected to be sentenced next week to two and a half years in prison. Under the new law he could have faced 20 years.</s>WIAN: Now, skeptics of the new legislation, including Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn say they doubt the entire 700-mile border fence will ever be fully funded by Congress. But even he concedes this is an important symbolic gesture showing that Congress is finally getting serious about securing the border, Lou.</s>DOBBS: A leading Republican senator expressing skepticism about successful Republican legislation that was passed over the objections of a Republican president. What's going on out there, Casey?</s>WIAN: Well, we asked Congressman Sensenbrenner about that, and he reminded the senator that appropriations begin in the House. And as long as Republicans control the House next year, he says they will fully fund that 700-mile border fence, Lou.</s>DOBBS: Casey, thank you very much. Casey Wian reporting from Otay Mesa, California. A new CNN poll shows a majority of Americans favor building that 700-mile fence along the border with Mexico. In the poll, 54 percent of Americans in favor of the 700-mile border fence; 44 percent are opposed. It should be noted that Congress has so far appropriated money for only 370 miles of that 700-mile border fence along our 2,000-mile border with Mexico. Tonight, local governments all across this country are passing tough new measures, punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. And employers are being arrested for flagrant violations of U.S. immigration laws. One of the toughest local ordinances against illegal immigration signed into law today in Suffolk County, New York. Christine Romans reports.</s>STEVE LEVY, SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE: This bill is now law.</s>CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Signed into law today in Suffolk County, New York, a crackdown on employers of illegal workers. Flanked by union leaders, county executive Steve Levy said he's doing what the federal government should and won't.</s>LEVY: It's leveling the playing field so that our good companies out that there are trying to do right by their employees are not put at a competitive disadvantage by those companies that cheat and exploit their workers.</s>ROMANS: Ensuring that county work sites have legal workers. Levy signing into law an ordinance that was easily passed by county lawmakers after hours of sometimes contentious public debate. Levy says his ordinance is designed to prevent discrimination against legal residents. But Cesar Perales of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund calls the law illegal, unnecessary and discriminatory.</s>CESAR PERALES, PUERTO RICAN LEGAL DEFENSE FUND: I'm concerned that there's going to be a long-term effect in our society. There's going to be a long-term sense that Latinos are doing something bad to our communities.</s>ROMANS: He's alarmed that communities across the country are writing their own immigration ordinances. Town officials say they're driven by federal inaction on illegal immigration. But Perales believes otherwise.</s>PERALES: I think it's primary political. I think that there is a strong sentiment in this country at this moment against immigrants, whether documented or undocumented. And I think that politicians know that. And they want to make sure that they are on the popular side of this issue.</s>ROMANS: many of these ordinances will be challenged in court.</s>ROMANS: The Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund, the ACLU and others have threatened court challenges of these local ordinances, but local leaders, like Steve Levy in Suffolk County, say with the flood of illegal immigration into their neighborhoods, into their towns, they want to go after the magnet, Lou, and that is the employers.</s>DOBBS: Without question. And the fact is, as the president suggests, local governments are doing the jobs that federal governments aren't doing. Thanks very much, Christine Romans. Still ahead here, election officials across this country in a race against time trying to ensure a free and fair vote this November as concerns about e-voting machines are mounting. We'll have that special report and the new ruling that could prevent millions of Americans from the right to join a labor union. Another example of Washington's war on our middle class. And several states are stepping forward to raise their minimum wage. Again, trying to do the job that Congress and this administration aren't doing. Stay with us.