According to Republican lawmakers, undocumented immigrants are overwhelming hospitals and law enforcement departments in border communities.  Representative Henry Bonilla of Texas stated that gangs and drug traffickers may easily overwhelm small law enforcement departments.  Representative Steve Pearce of New Mexico said that small sheriff’s offices in his district are spending 25 percent of their operating budget in helping Border Patrol stop undocumented immigrants from crossing the border.  At a hearing of the House subcommittee on immigration, some representatives argued that immigrants are wrongly being scapegoated as economic problems.  Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois believes that immigrants are an important part of the working community and play a large economic role.  The hearing examined the economic effects of immigration, as well as terrorist threats posed by immigrants.  Recent immigration proposals, such as the guest-worker program, have split many Republicans in Congress.   

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H.R.1745 - To amend the Social Security Act to enhance

     Social Security account number privacy protections, to

     prevent fraudulent misuse of the Social Security account

     number, and to otherwise enhance protection against identity

     theft, and for other purposes. 

     Sponsor:Rep Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. (introduced 4/20/2005 )   

     Bill Status: 4/27/2005 : Referred to the Subcommittee on

        Social Security.  

     Committee: House Social Security (subcommittee)

     http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d109:HR01745:/

  H.R.2862 - An Act making appropriations for the Departments

     of Commerce and Justice, Science, and related agencies,

     for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 , and for

     other purposes. 

     Sponsor:Wolf, Frank R. (introduced 6/10/2005 )    

     CRS Product: IB95095 Abortion: Legislative Response

     http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d109:HR02862:/

  H.R.3057 - An act making appropriations for the Department

     of State, foreign operations, and related programs for

     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 , and for other

     purposes. 

     Sponsor:Kolbe, Jim (introduced 6/24/2005 )   

     CRS Product: IB95095 Abortion: Legislative Response

     http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d109:HR03057:/

  H.R.4360 - To enforce law and order by establishing a program

     to authorize, fund, and otherwise assist local Sheriffs'

     offices in designated counties to provide a second line

     of defense alongside and in close cooperation with the

     United States Customs Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration

     and Customs Enforcement, to conduct law enforcement operations

     in their counties along the southern international border

     of the United States , and to prevent lawlessness in border

     areas. 

     Sponsor:Rep Culberson, John Abney (introduced 11/17/2005 )   

     Short title as introduced: Border Law Enforcement Act of

        2005

     http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d109:HR04360:/