Media
President Trump and I Agree, Secure the Border
July 16, 2018
I met with President Donald Trump at the White House earlier this month to discuss the crisis happening at our border. Thousands of migrants are entering our country illegally, human traffickers are exploiting women and children, and illicit drugs are being smuggled in and flooding our streets. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I have heard detailed accounts of these tragedies. At our meeting, President Trump and I agreed—we must secure our border.
A few weeks ago, the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 4760, the Securing America’s Future Act, legislation supported by President Trump. I cosponsored and supported this bill because it secures our border, funds the wall, and closes loopholes—ending our nation’s illegal immigration crisis for good. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass, because not one single Democratic member of Congress would support it. We need both sides of the aisle to come to the negotiating table and prioritize securing our border. Obstruction by Democrats continues to put our national security at risk.
Most recently, the House voted on the so-called “consensus” or “compromise” immigration bill, H.R. 6136. I did not support this legislation because it gave a pathway to citizenship to the parents of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. It’s one thing to help DACA recipients, it’s another thing to provide citizenship to the parents who broke the law. Again, not one single Democrat voted for even this bill.
Our greatest weakness continues to be taken advantage of—an unsecured border. If we are going to end these surges of unlawful border crossings, stop the exploitation of women and children, and prevent drugs from flowing into our country, we must secure our border. Only then can we solve our illegal immigration problem and permanently repair our broken system.
A few weeks ago, the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 4760, the Securing America’s Future Act, legislation supported by President Trump. I cosponsored and supported this bill because it secures our border, funds the wall, and closes loopholes—ending our nation’s illegal immigration crisis for good. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass, because not one single Democratic member of Congress would support it. We need both sides of the aisle to come to the negotiating table and prioritize securing our border. Obstruction by Democrats continues to put our national security at risk.
Most recently, the House voted on the so-called “consensus” or “compromise” immigration bill, H.R. 6136. I did not support this legislation because it gave a pathway to citizenship to the parents of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. It’s one thing to help DACA recipients, it’s another thing to provide citizenship to the parents who broke the law. Again, not one single Democrat voted for even this bill.
Our greatest weakness continues to be taken advantage of—an unsecured border. If we are going to end these surges of unlawful border crossings, stop the exploitation of women and children, and prevent drugs from flowing into our country, we must secure our border. Only then can we solve our illegal immigration problem and permanently repair our broken system.