The Secure Border Act of 2023 offers solutions that put America first by securing our borders, ending human trafficking, and defeating the cartels.
By Cong. Lance Gooden
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – The recent decision by the Biden administration to lift Title 42, a Trump border security initiative enacted in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a major cause for concern.
Texas bears a disproportionate burden from unchecked illegal immigration. Our law enforcement agencies, healthcare systems, schools, and communities are already stretched thin. The lifting of Title 42 will result in a significant increase in border crossings that will overwhelm our systems even more.
Lax border enforcement means an uptick in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and the entry of individuals with criminal backgrounds. The recent tragedy in Cleveland, Texas, where a Mexican national with a criminal record and multiple illegal re-entries shot five neighbors "execution style," underscores the risks of failing to secure our borders effectively.
In the face of this, I am working to advocate for strong border policies prioritizing the safety and well-being of Texans. I have urged President Biden to address the border crisis seriously and protect American communities.
I will continue to fight for effective border control, push back against careless open border policies, and stand for the interests of Texas and its people.
Fighting for a Secure Border
I cast a resounding YES vote for the Secure Border Act of 2023, a comprehensive bill aimed at addressing the escalating border crisis that is impacting our great state and our nation as a whole.
The Secure Border Act of 2023 is more than a policy; it is a commitment to the American people to safeguard our borders and protect our communities. This legislation mandates the enforcement of detention and the 'Remain in Mexico' policy, establishes a Title 42-like authority, and resumes border wall construction.
As part of our comprehensive approach, the Secure Border Act also addresses the serious issue of human trafficking. It discourages asylum fraud, raises the credible fear standard, reinforces asylum ineligibility, and notably, protects vulnerable migrant children, who are often the most impacted by these crises.
The Act takes a strong stance against drug cartels by considering the designation of these organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and ending parole abuse.
The current administration has regrettably failed to enforce the law, resulting in a humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border. The Secure Border Act of 2023 offers solutions that put America first by securing our borders, ending human trafficking, and defeating the cartels.
This bill is a necessary and comprehensive solution to the ongoing border crisis. It reinforces my commitment to our shared values, and I am convinced the time to act is now.
- Watch my floor speech on H.R. 2 HERE.
