The situation at our Southern border is alarming and threatening to the United States in a variety of ways, ranging from our national security to historic levels of fentanyl and other drugs entering our country. The chaos at our Southern border began to multiply after President Biden reversed many of President Trump’s immigration policies that were showing positive results. 

This week, I visited the Yuma sector of the Southern border in Arizona to further examine President Biden’s border crisis. This was my fifth trip to the border this year, and each time I return with more details about the extent of the crisis and am amazed by the lack of urgency by the Biden Administration to address this crisis. Border Patrol agents on the ground voiced their frustration to me regarding the shortage of supplies needed to adequately combat the daily surge of migrants not only in Yuma, but several sectors. They told me the cartels intentionally overflow certain sectors of the border, knowing Border Patrol only has so much manpower under this Administration. Forcing them to use their resources to shield specific highly-trafficked sections of the border exploits several vulnerable areas that would otherwise be guarded. As the Biden Administration continues their inaction, I can say with confidence that this Administration's policies are driving the months-long surge of illegal immigration we're experiencing. 

Border apprehensions increased every month under President Biden for the first six months of his presidency. In July, Customs and Border Protection reported 213,534 encounters with illegal immigrants, a 20-year high. That figure remained above the historic mark of 200,000 apprehensions in August. This number obviously screams for the immediate hiring of additional Border Patrol agents. The more encounters, the more paperwork and less time spent patrolling the border.

President Biden claims he inherited the border crisis, but the situation became an unmitigated disaster after he stopped construction of the border wall system and eliminated the Migrant Protection Protocols that kept migrants in Mexico until their immigration court date. The lack of authority and leadership from the White House concerning the border encourages human smugglers to profit from the Administration’s open border policies and places migrant families and unaccompanied children at risk as they seek to come to the United States illegally.

This year, Border Patrol officials have encountered individuals from 80 different countries attempting to come into the United States. This isn’t a specific country problem; it’s a world problem. With over 1.3 million illegal immigrants stopped at the border this year and thousands more coming every day, it is past time for the Biden Administration to act.

Thank you to the LaClare Family Creamery for hosting the inaugural Goatoberfest in Malone last weekend. I had a wonderful time!

Last weekend, I went to the Adell Zion United Methodist Church Annual Pork Chop Dinner. Thanks again for your tremendous hospitality!

As your Congressman, I’m here to serve you. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to my offices in Fond du Lac and Washington. If you enjoyed this newsletter, be sure to forward it to your family and friends so they can stay informed on what I’m doing in Washington and the 6th District, and let them know that they can subscribe by clicking here.

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