CLEAR Act of 2007

The Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2007, or the CLEAR Act, was introduced by Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.) on February 6, 2007, just a week before his death. The bill would create strict penalties for illegal immigrants and push law enforcement to enforce immigration law more throughly.

Current status
On March 1, 2007, the act was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.



Bill details
Some members of Congress, including many conservative Republicans, opposed any measure that allowed illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S. These members instead focused on legislative efforts designed to deter illegals from entering the country and businesses from hiring them. On February 6, 2007, just a week before his death, Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.) introduced the CLEAR Act of 2007 (H.R.842). Norwood's bill mirrored some of the provisions included in the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R.4437). The bill would state that :


 * State and local law enforcement personnel, in the course of their routine duties, have the inherent authority to investigate, apprehend, or transfer to federal custody aliens in the United States (including interstate transportation of such aliens to detention centers) in order to assist in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
 * Effective two years after enactment of this Act, a state that has in effect a statute, policy, or practice prohibiting such law enforcement assistance shall not receive certain federal incarceration assistance.

It would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act by:


 * Establishing new criminal penalties for aliens unlawfully present in the United States.
 * Increasing specified criminal penalties for illegal entry and failure to depart violations.
 * Expanding the scope of, and increasing, civil penalties for improper entry or failure to depart.

The bill would also provide a listing of immigration violators in the National Crime Information Center database.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Illegal immigration
 * U.S. immigration
 * U.S. immigration legislation