Border Security

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman has given us this opportunity tonight to speak on the growing crisis at our southern border. It is a critical issue that our friends on the other side of the aisle are simply failing to address.

Over the course of this government shutdown, many have sought to dismiss the very real challenges that we are facing regarding human trafficking, sexual assault, and drug smuggling that clearly are occurring. Thousands of people are making the dangerous journey to and across our southern border, and this has been the result.

What these same opponents fail to mention is the perverse incentives that exist for these crimes.

For example, our lax immigration laws have encouraged illegal immigration.

For example, the dramatic increase in unaccompanied minors and supposed family units at the border are a direct result of our catch- and-release policies.

The President made his case to the American people just a few nights ago, and he addressed the urgent need for border security. He is precisely right.

Securing our borders and protecting the American people must be a top priority of this Congress. It is our duty. It is important to maintain the strength and the sovereignty of our Nation.

A strong America is good not only for our national security and our prosperity, but it is good for all people around the world. As the last great superpower, we have to maintain our sovereignty and our strength, and it is important to do exactly that.

Here are just a few of the most devastating facts, and we will hear many of them tonight.

Last year, Customs and Border Protection agents apprehended 17,000 adults with existing criminal records.

In the past 2 years alone, ICE agents have arrested over 230,000 illegal aliens with a prior criminal history committed within our borders. That is assault, homicide, and sexual assault--violent crimes. Our border agents have arrested thousands of gang members and traffickers, and they have rescued countless children from exploitation.

By any objective measure, this is a humanitarian and a national security crisis. Anyone who says otherwise is either ignoring the facts or being dishonest.

Right now, so many of our friends on the other side are refusing to do what they have supported in the past, simply because it is now in line with President Trump's agenda.

When President Obama was in office, for example, all 54 Senate Democrats voted for $46 billion in border security and hundreds of miles in border fencing.

What has changed, Mr. Speaker?

That is an important question. Do our friends across the aisle need to hear from the families who have lost loved ones at the hands of an illegal alien? Do they deny that children being smuggled across the border deserve reprieve?

Sadly, the legislation that has come before the House this week fails to address the extraordinary crisis we face. This isn't an honest attempt to end the shutdown. These aren't good faith negotiations. This is a political stunt. These bills will not be considered by the Senate; they will not be signed by the President; and everybody knows that. Rather than working on solutions, the Democrats here have chosen to waste the people's time with these symbolic votes.

Not securing our border is an immoral act. What we have done here and what we are doing here is immoral by failing to address this issue. I commend the President and all of my Republican colleagues for taking this stand.

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