FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM

FAIR Supports Sen. Sessionss Biometric Entry-Exit Amendment

April 12, 2016

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is advising all Senators and staff that it supports
Sessions Amendment #3591 to Amendment #3464 to H.R. 636, the vehicle for the FAA Reauthorization Act. The
Sessions amendment prohibits funds for modifying or building air navigation facilities that serve as a port-ofentry unless they agree to implement biometric entry-exit within two years.
This commonsense amendment has important national security and immigration implications. Congress first
required the government to implement an entry-exit system to track aliens coming to and from the U.S. in 1996
as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. Then, following the 9/11 terrorist
attackswhere several of the hijackers had overstayed their visasCongress required, through the PATRIOT
Act, the system be biometric and fully implemented as expeditiously as possible.
Outrageously, this administrationand its two predecessorshave disregarded these deadlines, leaving our
ports-of-entry vulnerable to exploitation. As a result, visa overstays account for at least 40% of the illegal alien
population and the failure to implement biometric entry-exit at all ports-of-entry means the Department of
Homeland Security is unable to accurately track who comes and goes. The Sessions amendment merely prevents
the use of federal funds to give airports a facelift until they agree to comply with federal law. This important
amendment deserves a floor vote.
FAIR urges a YES vote on Sessions Amendment #3591 and will include it in FAIRs Voting Report.