WASHINGTON —U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) today delivered the following remarks on the Floor of the United States Senate highlighting his recent trip to the southern border and the commonsense actions that the Biden Administration can take to address the problem at our southern border created by President Biden’s unilateral actions.
Excerpts can be found below:
“In a recent House hearing, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas made a ridiculous claim that, quote, ‘the border is secure.’ To say the border is secure is laughable. I recently joined Senators Cornyn and Cruz and other colleagues on a visit to the southern border to see for ourselves. And I can tell you and the American people, without hesitation, the border is not secure. Reports just don’t do it justice. It is a disaster.”
“The compassion shown by the border patrol agents was clear. These brave men and women are doing all they can to make the best out of a terrible situation, a situation created by our President and his Administration.”
“This is not a Democrat or a Republican problem. It is an American problem. This crisis is a stain on our nation.”
“The situation happening at our southern border was predictable and preventable. The border patrol folks… told us how they asked the Biden Administration, before the inauguration, to give them time to prepare for any changes to the immigration policy. But President Biden didn’t listen. He was more interested in appeasing the globalists who demanded he immediately end President Trump’s successful border policies. On his first day in office, President Biden reversed President Trump’s policies and signaled to the world that the American border was open.”
“While I was down at the border, I saw firsthand how criminals take advantage of the situation. Cartels send migrants to specific locations along the border to preoccupy law enforcement while moving illegal drugs at other crossing points. On a midnight visit to the Rio Grande, these traffickers actually taunted us from across the river yelling and flashing their lights. They know the Biden Administration is unwilling to confront them and because the Administration won’t confront them, we’ve seen massive increases in drug seizures. In January and February alone, Custom and Border Protection’s seizures of fentanyl were up 277% compared to the same time in 2020. Cocaine seized at the border is up 62%. And remember, where there’s people or drugs, these numbers only account for those we catch.”
“According to Customs and Border Protection, at least four people have been arrested in the last few months at the border who match names on the FBI’s terrorist screening database. There’s no doubt those who wish harm will take advantage of this crisis to infiltrate our country.”
“I joined with 39 of my Republican colleagues to send a letter to the non-partisan Government Accountability Office to investigate President Biden’s unilateral decision to seize funds for the border wall. Congress specifically appropriated funds for the border wall construction. I believe the President’s actions infringe on Congress’ constitutional power of the purse.”
“In March of this year, border patrol arrested more than 170,000 migrants crossing the border illegally. That’s the worst month in 15 years. To put that in perspective, for the folks back home, that means there are more illegal migrants rushing our border in one month than the entire population of Lee County, Alabama, where I live.”
“I recently introduced a bill that would require DHS to issue a Notice To Appear, called an NTA, to every migrant that is processed at the border. We cannot continue to release illegal immigrants into our country without establishing some accountability such as a date for immigration court. At best, it hurts who came to this country actually looking to plead their asylum case.”
“My bill also requires the Department of Homeland Security to revoke any status and work authorization from a migrant who doesn’t show up for their court date. This mandate will curb the pull factors bedded in our immigration system and cut down on incentives for illegal immigration.”
“President Biden’s actions speak louder than those two feeble words. Well, Mr. President, as we say in Alabama, you’re a day late and a dollar short. My Republican colleagues and I will continue to demand action from the president on this crisis on behalf of the legal citizens of the United States of America.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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