IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 218 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding United States immigration and 
border security laws. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 
Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina submitted the following concurrent resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and 
in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding United States 
immigration and border security laws. 
Whereas, since 1996, Congress has passed and the Executive 
Branch has enacted several laws related to border secu-
rity and immigration reform; 
Whereas many of these laws have required substantial in-
creases to employ more Border Patrol agents, including 
the objective of having 18,000 Border Patrol agents on 
payroll by the end of December 2008; 
Whereas increasing the number of Border Patrol agents will 
not only reduce the number of illegal crossings at the 
border but will also enhance United States national secu-
rity; 
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•HCON 218 IH 
Whereas strengthening United States national security in-
cludes constructing and complying with the Secure Fence 
Act of 2006, by building 850 miles of fencing along the 
southern border with Mexico; 
Whereas the Secretary of Homeland Security is required to 
submit to Congress a report by October 26, 2007, on the 
progress made toward achieving and maintaining oper-
ational control over the international border; 
Whereas the program authorized under section 287(g) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act provides the legal au-
thority for State and local law enforcement to investigate, 
detain, and arrest aliens who have violated existing 
United States law; and 
Whereas greater participation in the section 287(g) program 
will help clarify the distinction between Federal responsi-
bility and local responsibility: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the Sense of the Congress that— 
(1) Congress should verify that current immi-
gration and border security laws are enforced; 
(2) the Secretary of Homeland Security should 
ensure that construction of the border fence is expe-
dited and use existing authority provided in the 
REAL ID Act to waive any legal requirements need-
ed for construction of such border fencing; 
(3) the report required by the Secretary should 
include recommendations that would enhance United 
States national security on the northern border and 
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•HCON 218 IH 
emphasize the Administration’s commitment to pro-
tecting both the southern and northern borders with 
Mexico and Canada; 
(4) Congress and the Administration should ex-
pand the program authorized under section 287(g) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act, including by 
providing the appropriate funds and flexibility for 
State and local governments to use; 
(5) construction of the fence along the southern 
border should not be delayed; 
(6) Congress should fully fund the 18,000 Bor-
der Patrol agents as authorized under current law; 
and 
(7) State and law enforcement should be pro-
vided the necessary resources to prosecute those in-
dividuals who disregard United States immigration 
laws. 
Æ 
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