Congressional Record—House H7325
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September 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7325 The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. There was no objection. problem of transnational gang violence FARENTHOLD). Is there objection to the Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speak- grow, and ICE reports that membership request of the gentleman from Geor- er, I am pleased to bring forward this of these gangs is comprised largely of gia? rule on behalf of the Rules Committee. foreign-born nationals. Many of these There was no objection. The rule provides for consideration of gang members terrorizing our streets f H.R. 3697, the Criminal Alien Gang are here illegally. Member Removal Act. Before I discuss MS–13, in particular, has experienced PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION the rule, Mr. Speaker, I would first like growth at the expense of American OF H.R. 3697, CRIMINAL ALIEN to take this opportunity to thank all neighborhoods and public safety. In GANG MEMBER REMOVAL ACT, the first responders who have been fact, the Department of Justice has AND PROVIDING FOR PRO- working tirelessly in the wake of Hur- said that MS–13, which originated in CEEDINGS DURING THE PERIOD ricanes Harvey and Irma, and to send Central America, has 10,000 members in FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2017, my thoughts and prayers to those who the United States, and 40,000 members THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2017. have suffered loss because of these worldwide. As if this wasn’t a clear Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speak- storms. enough threat, the other transnational er, by direction of the Committee on Georgia saw much of Hurricane gangs are on the rise as well. Rules, I call up House Resolution 513 Irma’s devastation firsthand, and I Sophisticated gang leaders have rec- and ask for its immediate consider- would like to thank the men and ognized that our immigration system ation. women who are responding to the peo- is susceptible to exploitation and have The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- ple in need and rebuilding our commu- taken advantage. MS–13 violence has lows: nities. I am grateful to all of those who hit communities in Boston, New York, H. RES. 513 have played and are playing a part in Virginia, and Washington, D.C., par- Resolved, That upon adoption of this reso- these recovery efforts. ticularly hard, but the problem is not lution it shall be in order to consider in the As someone who is still back home limited to these areas. House the bill (H.R. 3697) to amend the Im- migration and Nationality Act with respect without power, I understand the need In my home State of Georgia, ICE to aliens associated with criminal gangs, and that is going on in Florida all the way agents recently arrested an individual for other purposes. All points of order up through northeast Georgia. This is who played an active role in a murder against consideration of the bill are waived. truly a ‘‘from the beach to the high- in Virginia. In northern Virginia, at The amendment printed in the report of the lands’’ kind of issue, and we are con- least eight murders have been attrib- Committee on Rules accompanying this res- tinuing to thank our law enforcement, uted to MS–13 since last November. olution shall be considered as adopted. The our first responders, and especially This is unacceptable. bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. While it is not the only step we can All points of order against provisions in the those that work for the power compa- bill, as amended, are waived. The previous nies and others getting the utilities take, one major way we can help to ad- question shall be considered as ordered on back on that we take for granted so dress this problem is to make sure that the bill, as amended, and on any further many days. I just want to say thank transnational gang members who are amendment thereto, to final passage without you to them. seeking to bring their tactics to our intervening motion except: (1) one hour of Mr. Speaker, the rule before us today soil do not exploit our immigration debate equally divided and controlled by the provides for 1 hour of debate equally di- laws. We need to use all the tools in chair and ranking minority member of the vided between the chairman and rank- our toolbox to address this problem of Committee on the Judiciary; and (2) one mo- tion to recommit with or without instruc- ing member of the Judiciary Com- gang violence, and the underlying bill tions. mittee. The rule also provides for a mo- we are considering today helps us do SEC. 2. On any legislative day during the tion to recommit. that. It recognizes that transnational period from September 15, 2017, through Sep- Yesterday, the Rules Committee had gang members have taken advantage of tember 22, 2017— the opportunity to hear from two of our immigration laws while addressing (a) the Journal of the proceedings of the my colleagues on the Judiciary Com- existing flaws in our system. previous day shall be considered as approved; and mittee, Mr. JOHNSON from Louisiana This bill becomes clear that Congress (b) the Chair may at any time declare the and Ms. LOFGREN from California. will uphold its duty to protect the safe- House adjourned to meet at a date and time, Much of H.R. 3697 received consider- ty of the American people and provide within the limits of clause 4, section 5, arti- ation by the Judiciary Committee as critical tools to law enforcement. cle I of the Constitution, to be announced by part of a larger bill, the Michael Davis, Importantly, while this bill cracks the Chair in declaring the adjournment. Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State down on criminal alien gang members SEC. 3. The Speaker may appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair for the du- and Local Law Enforcement Act. and strengthens our system, it pre- ration of the period addressed by section 2 of After a lengthy and thorough debate, serves due process and burden of proof this resolution as though under clause 8(a) of the Judiciary Committee marked up protections. The Criminal Alien Gang rule I. and reported favorably that legislation Member Removal Act takes the com- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- on May 24. monsense step of ensuring that crimi- tleman from Georgia is recognized for 1 As a cosponsor and strong supporter nal gang members are ineligible for hour. of the Davis-Oliver Act, I hope to see asylum, special immigration, juvenile Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speak- that legislation pass before the full status, and temporary protected sta- er, for the purpose of debate only, I House. Today we have an opportunity tus. yield the customary 30 minutes to the to increase public safety by moving an The bill also adds grounds of inad- gentleman from Florida (Mr. HAS- important piece of that bill forward as missibility and deportability for crimi- TINGS), pending which I yield myself H.R. 3697. nal alien gang members, and it requires such time as I may consume. During I want to recognize Representative that criminal alien gang members are consideration of this resolution, all BARBARA COMSTOCK, my colleague from kept in custody prior to and during the time yielded is for the purpose of de- Virginia, for introducing the Criminal immigration court proceedings. bate only. Alien Gang Member Removal Act. I Mr. Speaker, under New York City’s GENERAL LEAVE also want to thank Representative sanctuary city policy, a criminal alien Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speak- COMSTOCK and this bill’s cosponsors— who was an admitted gang member was er, I ask unanimous consent that all Chairman GOODLATTE, Chairman SES- allowed to leave Rikers Island after Members may have 5 legislative days SIONS, Congressman PETER KING, and serving time for another offense. This within which to revise and extend their Congressman LABRADOR—for their was a particularly egregious case of remarks and include extraneous mate- work on this issue. how flaws in the system are serving rial on House Resolution 513, currently From fiscal years 2016 to 2017, ICE gangs, but it also highlights the clear under consideration. agents made over 8,000 gang-related challenge under existing statutes. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there criminal arrests, leading to over 2,600 Under current law, the criminal objection to the request of the gen- convictions. America’s families, alien’s self-admission of gang affili- tleman from Georgia? friends, and neighbors are watching the ation is not reason enough to deport VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:55 Sep 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13SE7.017 H13SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with HOUSE H7326 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 13, 2017 that individual. To be deported, the Like my friend from Georgia, my and defeating the perpetrators of gang alien has to be convicted of another home is without power, and we urge pa- violence is a good and worthy goal. In independent crime, even if he or she tience. The authorities are working fact, we already have laws on the books admits to being part of a gang. with the utility companies and they that do just that. We already have task In Houston, two MS–13 members kid- really do have a lot of people on the forces on gangs in virtually all of our napped three young girls, ultimately ground, and it is expected that they communities. killing one. These individuals, gang will be able to restore power and we This bill, on the other hand, will not members from El Salvador, were in the will be able to take the long-range view make our communities safer.