Nation

Bill would let military enforce immigration

WASHINGTON - An immigration enforcement bill that would allow the president to send military personnel to the border was introduced Monday by the chairman of the House immigration subcommittee. The Secure America Act, authored by Rep. John Hostettler, R-Ind., will be among the measures considered by the Judiciary Committee. Hostettler's measure is expected to have support from those who want to crack down on illegal immigration but opposition from those who want a more comprehensive approach to the problem that includes a temporary guest-worker program. House Republican leaders have said they want to enact some immigration enforcement measure this year. It's not clear yet what specific measures the leadership will support. Hostettler's bill would: ● Require all illegal immigrants caught within 100 miles of the border to be sent back to their home countries within 14 days, under the expedited removal procedure. This would not apply to those seeking asylum. ● Increase criminal penalties for the smuggling of immigrants into the United States. ● Give the president discretion to send military forces to the border to prevent terrorists, drug smugglers and illegal immigrants from entering the country. ● Refuse to grant visas to people from countries that won't let the United States send back to those countries citizens deemed to be in the United States illegally. ● Create a new Bureau of Immigration Enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security. This puts border and interior immigration enforcement into one entity.