Secure the Border Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, scheduled for a vote on the House floor later today. This legislation is harmful, dangerous, irresponsible, and just plain wrong.

Instead of securing the border, this bill will separate families, put human lives at risk, lead to more unlawful migration by blocking off lawful pathways to protection, and waste taxpayer dollars on an ineffective wall that can't even withstand wind much less criminal smuggling cartels.

Instead of treating this like the emergency that it is, House Republicans focus on immigration solely at the border, providing billions of dollars in so-called border security, building walls, increasing personnel, and rapid expulsion policies.

Since 1998, at least 8,000 undocumented migrants have died attempting to cross the border from Mexico to the U.S.

People are dying. They are dying every day. Children are exploited. They are exploited every day. Families are being separated. They are being separated every day.

We have all been waiting for many years, 27 years, in fact, since the last meaningful legislation on immigration reform was passed by this body.

Since then, Republicans have rejected every bill that has been proposed. This bill, again, is wrong. It is not a solution. It is a slap in the face to our immigration system.

There is no time left, Mr. Speaker. This bill is extreme, it is wrong, and what we really need is safe immigration law now.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.

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Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

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Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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