Rep. Blackburn Introduces CLEAR Act

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced, H.R. 2406, the Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal (CLEAR) Act of 2009. The bill’s key goal is “helping local law enforcement detect, arrest and detain illegal aliens in their communties.”

The CLEAR Act would authorize the Federal government to reimburse states and localities for up to $400 million per year for the costs of incarcerating illegal aliens. Pres. Barack Obama’s FY2010 budget proposal eliminates all funding for this program, the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). In addition to continuing the funding for SCAAP, the CLEAR Act also would provide the following enhancements to promote effective enforcement of immigration law:

Recognition of the inherent authority of states and localities to enforce immigration law;
Improved information sharing between state and local governments and the federal government;
A mandate for the federal government to expeditiously remove criminal aliens being detained by states and localities; and
Increased federal resources for local governments that choose to assist in immigration enforcement.

The CLEAR Act has 19 original cosponsors who will be recognized on the NumbersUSA front page over the upcoming weeks.

For those of you who do not have House Members sponsoring the bill, there is a fax on your Action Buffet urging them to do so.