And, can we secure our Southern Border without "Remain in Mexico"
By Cong. August Pfluger
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been weaponized by climate alarmists that put green special interest groups ahead of the American people. Thankfully, last week the Supreme Court delivered a ruling in the West Virginia v. EPA case that affirms Congress – not unelected officials at agencies in Washington – are charged with setting our nation’s energy policy.
The 6-3 decision rightly ruled that the EPA, beginning with the Obama Administration, stepped outside its authority in an attempt to re-engineer America’s power sector. The Supreme Court of the United States restored the authority to Congress.This ruling was a win for America’s energy workers, and I will continue promoting policies that unleash MORE American energy, not less.
While I was pleased with the ruling, I’m afraid the EPA will continue to look for creative ways to limit oil and gas production.
Most recently, the EPA indicated it plans to re-designate the Permian Basin as a "non-attainment" area. This designation will slow down production in the Permian Basin, increase U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and lead to higher costs at the pump.
The Permian Basin is the most prolific oil and gas producing region in the Nation – which makes us the key target of the EPA's overbearing mandates.
At a time when American families are already being crushed by record-high gas prices and price hikes on all goods and groceries, it is unfathomable that the Biden White House is continuing its crusade to limit American energy production.
Most recently, the EPA indicated it plans to re-designate the Permian Basin as a "non-attainment" area. This designation will slow down production in the Permian Basin, increase U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and lead to higher costs at the pump.
The Permian Basin is the most prolific oil and gas producing region in the Nation – which makes us the key target of the EPA's overbearing mandates.
At a time when American families are already being crushed by record-high gas prices and price hikes on all goods and groceries, it is unfathomable that the Biden White House is continuing its crusade to limit American energy production.
I am working with local, state, federal, and industry leaders to ensure this designation does not move forward.
Securing our Southern Border
Last week, Rep. Mayra Flores – the newest Republican Member of Congress from the Rio Grande Valley – and I sent a letter to House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson demanding that he hold a full committee hearing on the skyrocketing border encounters of possible terrorists.
Our letter comes on the heels of recent reports that an individual on the terror watch list was released into the U.S. by DHS.Following his release, he was allowed to stay in the country for two weeks, even after it was discovered that he is a possible terrorist.
This is a pattern of unacceptable oversights and blunders on matters of national security at our southern border; sadly unsurprising given the ever-growing security risks as migrants flood our border and override our law enforcement and border patrol agents.
The number of encounters with suspected terrorists along our southern border between ports of entry has jumped drastically – from three in Fiscal Years (FY) 2019 and 2020, to SIXTEEN in FY 2021 and FIFTY in FY 2022 so far. We recently learned that in the last month alone, US Border Patrol encounter numbers skyrocketed to 15 of these individuals.
These numbers are especially concerning when we consider ‘got away’ statistics (meaning those who have evaded border patrol and entered our country unknown). Since President Biden has been in office, there have been over 800,000 got-aways.
I am extremely concerned about what we don't know – how many possible terrorists are among these 800,000?
I am extremely concerned about what we don't know – how many possible terrorists are among these 800,000?
It is unacceptable that the committee charged with ensuring our safety is ignoring these glaring security risks. Our letter is a call to action for Congress - to wake up and stand up to President Biden's failing border policies – before it is too late.
Ending Remain in Mexico will be Catastrophic
Last week, the Biden Administration further pushed to end the Trump-era Remain in Mexico Border Protection Policy. Without "Remain in Mexico," it’s "Remain in the U.S."
President Biden’s policies have created an environment of weakness along our Southern Border that emboldens drug cartels, human traffickers, suspected terrorists, and criminals to break our laws and put American and migrant lives in danger.
Under the Biden Administration, over 3 million migrants have illegally crossed our southern border – and heartbreaking human smuggling casualty events have become all too common.
The situation at the southern border is more than a security catastrophe – it is a humanitarian crisis. Just this week, more than 50 illegal migrants died from heat stroke in the back of a tractor-trailer near San Antonio. A terrible and sad way to die. God bless them.
We must secure our southern border. Read more here about ways that I am taking action to enforce our border laws and quell this crisis.Congressman August Pfluger represents 29 counties in Texas’ 11th Congressional District, including the cities of San Angelo, Llano, Brownwood, Granbury, Midland, Odessa, and much of the Permian Basin – the top Oil & Gas Producing Region in the Nation.
