James Rogan
In areas like Southern California, and all along our nation's southern
borders, the problem of alien smuggling is most severe. What was once a
trickle of smuggled immigrants has grown to a tide of organized crime
smuggling aliens from every corner of the globe. Each year, millions of
illegal aliens come to this country by means of smugglers, often called
"coyotes."
Making the problem more severe is that many of the immigrants are
often found wandering in the desert, left for dead. Many have been raped,
robbed, beaten or worse. All thought their trip would lead to freedom;
for many it lead to death. Under current law, smugglers who bring aliens
into the country get away Scott-free.
When smugglers are captured, they are let off with the equivalent of a
slap on the wrist. The penalty for convicted smugglers is usually time
served (a minimal jail sentence) and a fine of about $3,000. In a crime
that generates millions of dollars in illegal cash for smugglers each
year, this fine is like paying a parking ticket. Smuggling is an
organized crime run by a handful of cartels similar to drug smuggling,
with consequences just as deadly.
Now, Congress has acted unanimously to curb this growing problem. The
House of Representatives passed legislation I wrote to increase penalties
against smugglers, increase funds to the Immigration and Naturalization
Service to fight this dreadful crime, and enact stiffer sentences for
convicted smugglers.
My bill, HR 238, called the Alien Smuggler Enforcement Act, puts in
place five key changes to current law. First, my bill will double the
number of INS (and Border Patrol) agents stationed along our borders.
Today, approximately 260 agents investigate and enforce crimes of human
smuggling. This legislation will add 250 officers to this program over
the next five years.
Second, HR 238 requires that sentences handed down to convicted
smugglers be doubled so that the penalty fits the severity and violence
of the crime. Prosecuting smugglers and dispensing tough sentences will
guarantee that criminals who often repeatedly violate the law without
punishment will be locked away.
Third, this bill increases fines for those convicted of smuggling
aliens to twice the amount that the smuggler received in fees for the
smuggling operation. Current law sets the fine for this crime at $3,000.
In a crime that generates millions of dollars for smugglers each year,
this increase will guarantee that those who are caught will pay a fine
