WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Wednesday introduced the Empowering Law Enforcement Act to grant state and local law enforcement the authority to investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain or transfer an illegal migrant where federal law enforcement have been prohibited from doing so under the Biden Administration. The legislation also extends the 180-day detainment period to the time necessary for removing dangerous, criminal aliens.
The need for increased interior enforcement was underscored by April’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection southwest border apprehension figures which rose to 178,622, the highest one-month total in two decades.
When speaking about the Empowering Law Enforcement Act, Senator Tuberville stated, “The Empowering Law Enforcement Act is about common sense. If the Biden administration won’t enforce the law, let’s empower those that will.”
Here’s What They Are Saying:
“While our nation certainly faces several challenges and hurdles currently, the crisis at our border is one of those that was preventable. The Trump Administration made great strides in securing our border, deterring illegal immigration, and supporting our federal and local law enforcement. Wednesday, Senator Tuberville introduced the ‘Empowering Law Enforcement Act of 2021.’ The crisis at the border has undermined public safety in all communities. This piece of legislation will give power to local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws. A nation is not a nation without borders, it is vital that we secure ours,” said Dr. Ben Carson, Founder and Chairman of the American Cornerstone Institute.
“Having triggered and mismanaged a border crisis on top of a refusal to enforce immigration laws in the interior of the country, it is clear that the Biden Administration does not prioritize the safety and security of the American people. But do you know who is willing to protect and serve these Americans? State and local law enforcement. The Empowering Law Enforcement Act not only provides them critical resources, but also the authority to actually enforce immigration laws. While Senator Tuberville’s political career is in its infancy, introduction of this FAIR-supported bill is yet another example of his commitment to true immigration reform. We applaud him and urge every one of his colleagues to co-sponsor,” said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
“Since the Biden Administration has abdicated its responsibility to keep American communities safe by enforcing immigration laws, it is imperative that we empower state and local law enforcement to do so. Senator Tuberville’s Empowering Law Enforcement Act will allow them to uphold their oaths to protect and serve communities that the federal government has turned its back on at the worst possible time,” said Mark Morgan, former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
“The Biden Administration has hamstrung ICE’s ability to detain and remove illegal aliens, leading to the release of thousands of dangerous criminals back into communities nationwide. It is great to see a proposal that addresses this by granting state and local law enforcement the authority to enforce immigration laws. I encourage Senator Tuberville’s fellow lawmakers to co-sponsor the Empowering Law Enforcement Act right away,” said Tom Homan, former director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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