Rep. Jason T. Smith, U.S. Representative for Missouri's 8th District | Congressman Jason Smith Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Jason T. Smith, U.S. Representative for Missouri's 8th District | Congressman Jason Smith Official U.S. House headshot
Americans have long been demanding action from the Biden administration to address the chaos at the border. However, up until now, leaders on the Left have denied the severity of the situation and have even worsened the crisis with their actions. But with the 2024 elections approaching, President Biden and Washington Democrats have suddenly changed their tune. They are now acknowledging the chaos and calling on Republicans to work together to pass an immigration bill.
Simply throwing money at the border will not resolve this crisis. What is needed are policy changes, and Biden has the power to implement them himself. Unfortunately, during his first 100 days in office, he dismantled many of the effective immigration policies put in place by President Donald Trump. This included halting border wall construction, reinstating catch-and-release, and ending the "Remain-in Mexico" program, among others.
The consequences of these disastrous policy decisions have been devastating. Since Biden took office, over 8 million illegal immigrants have crossed the border, surpassing the combined population of Missouri and Delaware. Even more alarming is the fact that nearly 300 suspected terrorists have been apprehended while attempting to enter the United States.
Visits to the border have revealed that migrants are not only coming from South and Central America. In fact, there has been a significant increase in the number of migrants arriving from various countries, including Guinea, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Syria. This poses a serious security risk, as some of these countries have been known to be breeding grounds for terrorists.
Many of these migrants are entering the country illegally by riding freight trains through Mexico. The situation has become so dire that two rail crossings in Texas had to be closed. This has caused major disruptions to trade between the United States and Mexico, with estimated losses of $200 million per day in wages, goods, and transportation costs.
It is clear that the situation at the border is anything but normal. Republicans had warned President Biden that these consequences were inevitable when he dismantled President Trump's effective border agenda. In response, Republicans in the House passed the Secure the Border Act, a comprehensive and robust border security legislation. However, the bill has been neglected by the Democrat-controlled Senate, preventing any progress on addressing the crisis.
While the specifics of the Senate Democrats' border bill have yet to be revealed, there is skepticism that it will include the necessary policies to bring an end to the crisis. Nonetheless, President Biden has the authority to take immediate action without waiting for Congress to send him a bill. It is crucial to implement measures that can help extinguish the fire that is raging at our border.
In conclusion, the fight to secure the border remains a pressing issue for the United States. The chaos and consequences of the Biden administration's immigration policies cannot be ignored. It is imperative for Republicans to continue opposing the disastrous immigration agenda of the Left and push for effective solutions to protect the security and integrity of the nation's borders.
For additional details, please follow this link: https://jasonsmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5309