Border Security

On Day One, President Biden overturned Trump-era immigration policies such as ‘Remain in Mexico’ and replaced them with ‘Catch and Release’ policies, which have facilitated the crossing of over 10 million people across our borders since 2021. Additionally, Biden and his Border Czar Harris have halted the construction of the border wall that would have bolstered our national security. Because of these ineffective policies, we have witnessed a historic influx of fentanyl, leading to the tragic deaths of over 200,000 Americans from fentanyl poisoning since 2021.

Biden Border Stats:

• 291,000 Unaccounted Children: Nearly 300,000 unaccompanied children (UCs) are unaccounted for, with no assurance of safety from trafficking or exploitation.
• 10 Million Encounters: Over 10 million illegal immigrant encounters nationwide since Biden and Harris took office.
• 2 Million Gotaways: Approximately 2 million individuals evaded U.S. Border Patrol, marking the highest number in a decade.
• 99.7% Non-removal Rate: The administration failed to remove 99.7% of illegal immigrants released into the U.S.
• Fentanyl Crisis: Over 200,000 Americans have died from fentanyl smuggled across the border.
• Terrorist Watchlist: Under Harris, over 350 individuals with names on the terrorist watchlist attempted to cross the Southern Border.
• Harris' Border Visits: Harris has only visited the Southern Border once since her appointment as border czar in March 2021.
• 2,020 Pounds of Fentanyl Seized Monthly: Federal law enforcement seized an average of 2,020 pounds of fentanyl each month, enough to kill over 458 million people.

In order to combat the Biden-Harris Border Crisis, I:

• I voted in favor of the SAVE Act, legislation that protects the integrity of our elections by requiring proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office. American citizens should be the ones deciding America's future, not illegal immigrants.
• I voted in favor of the Laken Riley Act, which would require ICE to arrest illegal immigrants who commit burglary, larceny, theft, or shoplifting offenses. We must ensure that what happened to Laken Riley and her family does not happen again to any American citizen. This bill passed the House and was signed into law.
• I cosponsored H.R. 35, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act. This bill makes it a crime to intentionally flee a pursuing law enforcement officer. Agent Raul Gonzalez was a border patrol agent who lost his life while pursuing individuals along the border, and this bill honors his memory. This bill passed the House with bipartisan support. 
• I cosponsored H.R. 27, the HALT Fentanyl Act, which permanently classifies fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, allowing law enforcement to keep these dangerous drugs off our streets. This bill passed the House with bipartisan support.
• I stood up for women’s safety, voting for H.R. 30, the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, ensuring that aliens convicted of sex offenses will be deemed inadmissible to the United States and will face deportation. This bill passed the House with bipartisan support.
• I voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023. This is the most comprehensive Border Security bill in American history.
• I introduced the DUMP Opioids Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support and was signed into law.
• I cosponsored the Securing the Border for Public Health Act, legislation that authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to restrict migration and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of illicit drugs into the United States.
• I cosponsored the Southern Border Transparency Act, legislation that requires the Department of Homeland Security to publish various publications and reports regarding the number of aliens seeking entry along the southern border of the United States.
• I voted to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his role in orchestrating the worst border crisis in American history.
• I introduced legislation that would finish border wall construction between the U.S. and Mexico.
• I cosponsored the Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act, legislation that prohibits the intentional hindering of immigration, border, and customs controls, and for other purposes.
• I led a letter with 62 colleagues to the Department of Homeland Security, pressing for clarity on their plan to handle the repercussions of lifting Title 42, following the Biden Administration's reckless decision.