Political Quotes

“I rise to introduce the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2011 with my colleagues and friends, Senator Jon Kyl, Senator Mary Landrieu and Senator Claire McCaskill. This bill will provide law enforcement and prosecutors with important tools to locate border tunnels, identify criminals and punish those involved. As the U.S., Mexico border has become more secure, criminals have sought out new ways to transfer drugs and people across the border. For years, smugglers have tried to go around our border checkpoints. Now, they are trying to go under them to evade border enforcement. There is an increasing number and sophistication of tunnels along the Southwest border. Tunnels range from anything from a shallow dirt crawl way to sophisticated concrete structures with shoring, ventilation and electricity. One tunnel found in San Diego even had a makeshift elevator. Underground tunnels present a serious national security threat. The first tunnel was discovered in May of 1990. However, beginning in 2001, tunnels began to increase dramatically. Between September 2001 and today, an astonishing 125 completed tunnels have been discovered making a total of 137 completed tunnels since 1990. Border tunnels are most often used to transport narcotics from Mexico to the United States, but assumingly are also used to smuggle weapons and people. Just as tunnels can be used to transport drugs across the border, they could be used to smuggle a terrorist into the United States.…”