Congressman Tim Walberg | Rep. Tim Walberg Official U.S House Headshot
Congressman Tim Walberg | Rep. Tim Walberg Official U.S House Headshot
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-05) has taken a strong stance on border security, cosponsoring the Southern Border Transparency Act and demanding a Senate vote on H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act.
The need for stronger border security has become increasingly apparent, with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) recording a record-breaking 2.4+ million encounters at the southern border in FY23. This includes the apprehension of 169 individuals on the terrorist watchlist who were attempting to enter the country illegally.
In an impassioned speech on the House floor, Rep. Walberg emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "This is a national security and humanitarian crisis, and the Senate and President Biden simply cannot wait any longer to secure the border." He highlighted the fact that each year of the Biden administration has seen new records for encounters at the border, yet the problem continues to be ignored.
The Secure the Border Act, which passed the House in early May, contains several key provisions aimed at addressing the border crisis. These include the restart of construction on the southern border wall, the deployment of improved technology to both the southern and northern borders, and the increase in the number of Border Patrol agents, accompanied by bonus pay. The bill also calls for greater transparency from the Department of Homeland Security regarding illegal crossings and strengthens existing laws to protect children from human trafficking. Additionally, it aims to end catch and release and the abuse of executive immigration authority, while streamlining the asylum process.
Rep. Walberg highlighted the Senate's refusal to take up the Secure the Border Act, despite its passage in the House. He called for an immediate vote on the bill, stating, "It's long past time for a vote on border security."
In addition to cosponsoring the Secure the Border Act, Rep. Walberg has also lent his support to the Southern Border Transparency Act. This bill, if enacted, would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue reports detailing the total number of illegal immigrants encountered at the southern border and released into the country. It aims to prevent any gimmicks used to artificially lower numbers and requires DHS to report a wide range of data, including the total number of migrants paroled at a port of entry (POE) and the amount granted parole.
Rep. Walberg expressed his concerns about the Biden administration's attempts to downplay the scale of the crisis through the use of gimmicks. He said, "The Southern Border Transparency Act will allow the American people to know just how many migrants are being released and provide a full accounting of the Biden administration's catch-and-release policy. Transparency will ultimately lead us closer to the goal of ending this humanitarian and national security crisis at the border."
With the support of Rep. Walberg and other lawmakers, the push for stronger border security and increased transparency continues. As the crisis at the southern border persists, it remains to be seen whether the Senate will act on these crucial bills to address the national security and humanitarian concerns at hand.
Click this link to access more information: https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-cosponsors-bill-help-secure-border-demands-senate-vote-hr-2
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