Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I have been down on the border several times, and every time we are down there, we learn a little bit more.

My amendment would highlight the need for alternative methods of management for border wall infrastructure during flood season. The border wall faces a challenge when the waters rise during flood season. These floods can jeopardize the structural integrity of the wall, compromising its effectiveness and putting our border at risk.

During a recent hearing I held in Sierra Vista, Arizona, I was surprised to discover the way in which we deal with this issue. We deal with it just by opening up the gates along the wall. You heard that right. Border Patrol agents are required to open vast sections of the wall, allowing migrants to flow into the country unimpeded. This comes at a time when we are facing an unprecedented crisis.

Last month, U.S. officials encountered 230,000 migrants crossing the border; 180,000 of those migrants crossed the border between ports of entry, areas that are supposed to be protected by the wall. However, during flood season, these migrants simply walked through because we open up the gates.

To address this critical concern, we need to explore alternative methods and technologies that can protect the border wall.

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Chair, I just reiterate, being at the border and talking to the members of the Border Patrol who are on the border every day, they feel the current situation is untenable and is allowing more people to cross the border than they should.

As far as the idea of simply climbing over a fence, I have yet to meet anybody on the border, be it Border Patrol agent, be it American law enforcement, be it people who have land on the border, who do not feel the wall is a good thing.

They all realize it is a wall system. It takes more than just a wall. They prefer if we describe it as a wall system, but they all feel we need additional barriers at the border to prevent this over 200,000 people a month streaming in here.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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