Supporting Cuban People

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUTHERFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share my concerns for the crisis we are seeing at the southern border and the obvious unwillingness of the Biden-Harris administration to provide solutions.

Illegal border crossings are at their highest level in two decades. Yet, this administration not only won't address it; they actually exacerbate it because they cut the CBP budget over $900 million.

In June alone, border agents actually encountered over 188,000 people at our southern border. Madam Speaker, that is a 450 percent increase over last June.

Madam Speaker, the Biden administration created this invasion, this border crisis. This year alone, over 80,000 kids have crossed the border, with 15,000 remaining in government custody.

Fixing the crisis at the border requires an investment in manpower, infrastructure, technology, and strong policy. That is why I asked this body to plus-up $300 million in next year's budget for Operation Stonegarden, to reimburse border States like Texas that are actually stepping up at the State level to provide security for their constituents.

We must finish the wall, reinstate the remain in Mexico policy, and never bring back catch and release, which the Biden administration is rumored to be bringing back in the coming months.

A strong America begins and ends with a strong, safe, and secure border.

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