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Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, this week, Senator Kaine of Virginia and Senator Van Hollen of Maryland are going to force a vote on a resolution here in the Senate, and, astonishingly, it is in defense of illegal immigrant criminals.

They are going to take up the Senate's time, the time of the American people, because they want to defend illegal immigrant criminals. It is called the Kaine-Van Hollen resolution, pure political theater. It is not about human rights. It is not about protecting Americans, in my opinion, from violent crime, and that is why I am opposing what they are proposing here today.

What they are proposing is to shield illegal immigrant criminals-- shield them from deportation and shield them as they try to evade arrest.

Democrats want to defend illegal immigrant criminals, and apparently they want to continue to do that. Let's talk about illegal immigrant criminals, and let's talk about the one that they are running to check on in El Salvador: Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

That is what one of them did, went to go check on him. The media likes to call him a ``Maryland man.'' Senator Van Hollen said he doesn't ``vouch'' for Garcia. Yet he is one of many Democrats now who have gone to El Salvador.

Let's talk about Garcia's record. That is what the American people have been hearing about as well. For starters, Garcia is an illegal immigrant with a deportation order. He has been ordered by the courts to be deported from the United States. His own lawyer has conceded, in immigration court, that he entered the country illegally back in 2011, and he is fully subject to deportation, and a deportation order has been given.

Moreover, in 2019, an immigration judge again--a judge--determined Garcia was a ``verified member'' of MS-13. A ``verified member'' of MS- 13. Well, then they appealed. Well, the determination was upheld on appeal. Yes, he is a ``verified member'' of MS-13. Oh, he is also suspected of human trafficking because in 2022, he was caught driving eight passengers from Texas to Maryland. He was stopped in Tennessee. He was driving eight passengers, Texas to Maryland, in a car registered to a human smuggler. Astonishing. That is what the Democrats are defending.

He was driving on a suspended license, no proof of insurance, all in violation of the law. None of these eight passengers being moved-- transported--from Texas to Maryland had any luggage. Tennessee law enforcement recently released the body camera footage of the stop. It is real.

But what else do we know? Well, his wife, Garcia's wife, sought two protective orders--two protective orders--against him for threatening to kill her. That is whom the Democrats are here defending today--not that one individual but that whole style of behavior that has now impacted every community in America as 10 million illegal immigrants flooded into our country during the Biden administration.

What has President Trump done? He has taken this dangerous thug off the streets. But now Democrats are fighting to bring illegal immigrant criminals, in his case and others, back into the country. How many people want him as a next-door neighbor? Is that good news? Is that what the Democrats want, hey, bring him back, bring him into our community?

President Trump and Republicans in this body are protecting our communities. We are supporting and actually deporting illegal immigrant criminals. Democrats' policies would allow each and every one of those criminals to roam free in our communities.

Americans were forced to live with Democrats' failed approach at the border for the last 4 years. Ten million illegal immigrants flooded into the country, entered with ease. Open border policies--what do we know about our home State of Wyoming?--drove up crime, drove up fentanyl deaths. So many illegal immigrants, they strained our schools, our hospitals, our communities. And Democrats are now attempting to weaken the strong and successful border security policies that this current administration is actually enforcing, which the Democrats ignored.

Illegal crossings are down 93 percent from last year. In April, only five illegal immigrants were released into the country. Compare that to April 1 year ago when Joe Biden was in charge. He was the President. The Democrats were the majority.

Mr. President, 68,000 illegal immigrants were released into America in a single month under Joe Biden. That was the month of April last year.

Look, we are putting in place strong border security. Republicans are leading the way. We ended this catch-and-release program. We restored ``Remain in Mexico.'' We are the party of secure borders and safe communities. The Democrats are the party of open borders and crime running rampant.

So the response of the obstructionist Democrat is to push a political stunt, and that is what they are doing here today. This Kaine-Van Hollen resolution, it wastes the Senate's time, it delays our important work on behalf of the American people.

I have not heard one Democrat, and I hope some come to the floor and explain how allowing MS-13 gang members to roam free in our communities and in our neighborhoods, how that makes America safer or stronger.

What is the Democrat plan to protect Americans like Laken Riley and Rachel Morin and other victims of their failed policies?

They have none. They have none.

Republicans know how to keep America safe: Secure the border. Fund law enforcement. Deport illegal immigrant criminals. That is the way to keep our country safe and strong.

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