House Approves Norwood CLEAR Act

“This is a tremendous win for public safety and the ability of state and local law enforcement across the country to effectively fight violent criminal illegal aliens,” Norwood says.

Thank you, Congressman Norwood, for your persistence and determination to protect our nation. After almost three years of effort the payoff is at hand. Local law enforcement agencies will be approved to enforce federal immigration law during the course of routine duties.

The House of Representatives has passed the major provisions of the CLEAR Act, HR 3137, by U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) as Amendment 65 to the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, HR 4437. The Amendment passed by a 237-180 bipartisan margin. The overall bill, HR 4437, is expected to be sent to conference with Senate immigration reform legislation, and if the two Houses agree to a final bill, the CLEAR Act provisions could become law sometime next year.

The CLEAR Act was considered by friend and foe to be one of the most powerful potential reforms in fighting illegal immigration. Currently, illegal aliens who make it past the border are largely able to disappear in immigrant communities, as only 2,000 federal officers are able to track down 460,000 criminal aliens each year, rendering effective enforcement virtually impossible. The CLEAR Act amendments allow an additional 700,000 state and local officers to join the fight.

Read more at this news release.