U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) on Tuesday announced that he has cosponsored the lower chamber’s companion bill to legislation first introduced by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), the Empowering Law Enforcement Act, which would grant local and state police more authority to enforce U.S. immigration law.
As progressives in the Democratic Party increase calls to abolish ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), Tuberville and Brooks are seeking a legislative remedy to what they see as the Biden administration’s refusal to enforce certain aspects of immigration law, such as the detention and deportation of illegal aliens.
If passed, the Empowering Law Enforcement Act would grant state and local law enforcement inherent immigration enforcement authority to investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain or transfer a migrant that has entered the United States illegally. The bill would also grant the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary the discretion to obtain an alien past the 180-day period to ensure criminals are not released into American communities.
Brooks took to social media to announce his support of Tuberville’s legislative efforts.
I'm cosponsoring the Empowering Law Enforcement Act, the House companion to @SenTuberville's recently introduced bill. It provides state & local law enforcement more power & funding to investigate illegal aliens & enforce our immigration laws. Thanks for leading on this, Coach!
— Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) August 3, 2021
The congressman’s tweet reads, “I’m cosponsoring the Empowering Law Enforcement Act, the House companion to Sen. Tuberville’s recently introduced bill. It provides state [and] local law enforcement more power [and] funding to investigate illegal aliens [and] enforce our immigration laws. Thanks for leading on this, Coach!”
In announcing the legislation earlier this year, Tuberville blasted Democrats’ calls to abolish the nation’s chief federal immigration enforcement agency.
“If the Biden Administration is insistent on taking away ICE’s ability to enforce our immigration laws, then we should make sure our state and local law enforcement has the authority to respond to the influx of illegal migrants in our communities,” stated Tuberville.
The legislation seeks to combat the ongoing crisis at the nation’s southern border. Illegal border crossings hit record numbers this year after the Biden administration sought a swift reversal from Trump-era immigration policies.
UPDATE 3:30 p.m.
In a statement to Yellowhammer News, Brooks took the Biden administration to task over its border policies.
“Joe Biden and the Socialist Democrats have surrendered America’s southern border,” stated Brooks. “We’ve all seen the horrifying scenes of illegal aliens, many of whom are COVID-19 positive, streaming into America unabated by the millions. Senator Tuberville’s Empowering Law Enforcement Act is an important measure in the fight to secure the southern border and fully enforce America’s immigration laws by giving states and local law enforcement critical resources and authority to enforce federal immigration law. This is especially important as the Biden administration continues to hamstring Customs and Border Patrol operations in order to appease the far left.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
