Issue Position: Border Security

Issue Position

America's borders are our nation's last line of defense in the War on Terror and they must be secured. During my first term in Congress my subcommittee on Investigations issued a border security report showing evidence that terrorists want to exploit our porous borders to gain entry into the United States. It is for that reason alone America must make securing our borders the top priority. However, we are all aware of the problems this nation is having with illegal immigration and the negative impact illegal immigration is having on the United States and Congress must stop the flow of illegal immigrants first, before any debate begins about temporary guest worker programs. America has a right and, more importantly, a responsibility to determine who enters our nation and for what reasons. We must secure our borders and I will continue fighting to do so.

At the beginning of 2011 I was re-appointed as Chairman of the Homeland Security Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over all of the Department of Homeland Security. Now that we have regained the majority, my goal is to pass legislation critical to our national security but that was held up for four years under the reign of Nancy Pelosi.

My votes and work to secure the border have included:

Leading efforts to leverage existing Department of Defense technology coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq for use along the Southwest border.
Increased funding for BEST teams that intercept weapons and cash smuggled into Mexico that arm and fund the cartels.Voted for $2.33 billion for border security, adding 1,200 new border agents along the Texas/Mexico border.
Introduced legislation to increase funding for border sheriffs and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sponsored House legislation putting an end to the failed catch and release policy for Other-Than-Mexican (OTM) illegal aliens captured by the border patrol, and mandating the Homeland Security Department provide enough detention space for their containment.
Opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Believes that Americans should not suffer the costs imposed by the illegal aliens in this country, and in our state.
Voted for and supports the establishment of physical barriers to stop illegal entry, and encourages the use of the latest technology to monitor and secure our borders.

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