Boozman: Arrests Highlight Need for Cut Program

Boozman: Arrests Highlight Need for Cut Program
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Boozman: Arrests Highlight Need for Cut Program
Arrests of Illegals at National Guard HQ part of program gutted by House leadership


House Seal Outline


Washington, May 11 - U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today voiced concern over a recently-passed Democratic Homeland Security plan in light of the arrests of a dozen illegal immigrants at Camp Joseph T. Robinson Army National Guard Base in Little Rock.

Nine males, two females and one juvenile male were arrested. They were employed by two different companies performing contract work at the base.

According to a press release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the arrests stemmed from ICE's mission to "target illegal workers with access to critical infrastructure worksites" including U.S. military installations.

The Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) program was gutted earlier this week from a Democrat-backed Homeland Security plan which passed the House. CIP investigations are generally predicated upon the threat to national security posed by unauthorized workers employed in critical infrastructure related facilities.

"This is a real-world example of why this plan passed by House Democrats was a bad idea," Boozman said. "I thank ICE and Camp Robinson for their due diligence in ensuring the security at our state's National Guard headquarters, and one of the nation's largest state-operated training sites."

"Protecting places like Camp Robinson is extremely important, and the stripping of a key Homeland Security tool – along with others in the authorization bill – weakens America's security."

The Homeland Security bill also removed the 287(g) program, a voluntary one where local law enforcement agencies receive immigration enforcement training, a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

"Yesterday, illegal aliens from Mexico were the ones arrested, thanks to a program left on the cutting room floor this time around," Boozman said. "In the future, we won't be able to know if it was an illegal alien or an al-Qaeda operative because we wouldn't be able to check, thanks to the new Homeland Security plan put together by the Democrat leadership."


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boozman.house.gov


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