Cantor, Drake and Wittman team-up on Border Security reforms

By J.R. Hoeft

When it comes to illegal immigration, one of the issues facing us still is the ineffective use of technology to coordinate the efforts of law enforcement at tracking, apprehending and deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes.

One of the tools is an NCIC database which, you would expect, would have some status on whether a person is a citizen or not. It does not.

“[M]uch to the dismay of law enforcement, that database lacks the immigration status encased in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement database. The result is a complicated and bureaucratic process of determining legality that enhances the likelihood that criminal illegal aliens will evade deportation following their incarceration,” wrote Reps. Cantor, Drake and Wittman to Assistant Secretary Julie Myers, Department of Homeland Security. “Our communities understandably are outraged that criminal illegal aliens are returning to our streets and neighborhoods after being detained to commit further crimes.”

The letter sent is part of an ongoing effort by these three Virginia congressman to take practical steps at making the borders more secure.

In Virginia, an Alien Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Task Force was formed by Cantor, Drake and Wittman to identify problems and recommend solutions to issues that relate to illegal immigration. The task force consists of local government and law enforcement leaders.