Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, joined 114 members of Congress in reintroducing the “Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act.” The CLEAR Act, originally introduced by the late Charlie Norwood, would establish an efficient system to identify and remove violent criminal aliens from the U.S.
“I’ve always said an alien’s first act in this country shouldn’t be an illegal one,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “And we certainly shouldn’t stand by while they commit subsequent crimes. This bill would give local law enforcement and federal agencies the ability to swiftly arrest and deport violent criminal aliens. This will help keep Montana families safe.”

There are more than 400,000 fugitive aliens in the United States, and 85,000 or more have criminal records. The Charlie Norwood CLEAR Act of 2007, re-introduced by Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), provides several critical improvements to Federal law, including: 1) clear authority for local agencies to enforce immigration law; 2) improved information sharing so local agencies can practically enforce immigration law; 3) requirements for the Federal government to remove and deport criminal aliens; 4) increased Federal resources for local governments that choose to enforce the law; and 5) reduced Federal resources for local governments that provide sanctuary to violent criminal aliens.

“Those committing violent crimes in our communities should be our first priority when it comes to detaining and deporting illegal aliens,” said Rehberg. “Whether its Chinook or Chicago every community should have the ability to stop these criminals quickly.”