Dear Mr. and Mrs. Santos:

     Thank you for writing to me about illegal immigration. I appreciate hearing your views on this important matter.

    Like you, I am concerned about the number of illegal immigrants who enter our country each year. I understand the impact that illegal immigration has on our nation and our state. We must greatly increase our efforts to secure our borders, and I support the funding necessary to do so. To this end, I voted for S.Amdt.516 and S.Amdt.487, which would increase funding for border security and provide for additional border patrol agents.

I am also committed to making our nation more secure by eliminating tunnels that provide a direct passageway into the United States for illegal narcotics, banned weapons, potential terrorists, and others who would be stopped at a port of entry. I am an original co-sponsor of the Border Tunnel Prevention Act, S.2355, which would enact stiff penalties for the unauthorized construction of such tunnels.

The federal government has an obligation to help states bear the financial costs associated with illegal immigration. I am a co-sponsor of S.188, a bill to authorize funds for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which reimburses states for the costs of incarcerating illegal immigrants. This legislation passed the Senate on May 23, 2005.

I believe that immigrants who enter the United States legally make many valuable contributions to our great nation. I support legislation that seeks to regulate legal immigration according to the traditional American values of fairness and dignity for all.

    Thank you again for writing to me. As Congress considers immigration reform, please rest assured that that I will support legislation aimed at stemming the flow of illegal immigration and helping states with the costs of illegal immigration.