Pierluisi calls for greater federal protection in Island

As part of immigration reform calls for the inclusion of Puerto Rico

 

Pierluisi said that Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands must be included in any border security measure to be considered by Congress. (Archive)

By ELNUEVODIA.COM

WASHINGTON - Resident Commissioner in Washington, Pedro Pierluisi, said today that the measures taken to strengthen the security of U.S. borders, as part of the reform of the immigration laws, it also takes into account Puerto Rico.

"If we try to protect the U.S. border with Mexico without increasing border security in the Caribbean of the United States, only criminal activity would be moving from one border to another," Pierluisi said during a hearing of the Judiciary Committee of the federal lower house, before the legislative recess on the Day of the Fallen in the War.

Pierluisi, who is a member of the committee, said "the U.S. territories in the Caribbean, specifically Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have to be included in any border security measure to be considered by the federal Congress."

According Pierluisi with his statement agreed experts who testified before the commission, as David Aguilar, former Acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and U.S. Border Patrol (CBP, in English), Julie Meyers Wood, former Secretary of Security National Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Chris Crane, president of the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bipartisan group negotiates the bill to reform immigration laws expected to be submitted in June.

The Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and passed its own legislation, which now goes to the full Senate. 

"We have to improve the immigration system that works for all Americans, help our economy and on our national interest. Puerto Rico has experienced a dramatic increase in the level of violence that is directly related to land use as a transshipment point for illicit drugs destined for U.S. markets.Although there is evidence that the law and order agencies have worked to increase federal operations in the island, the underlying security dynamics remain the same for more than 3.7 million American citizens residing in Puerto Rico, "said Pierluisi in its press release.