John Barrasso Celebrates Trump's Border Security After Illegal Crossings Hit Historic Lows

Forbes Breaking News

During remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) spoke about President Trump's border security policies.

Transcript

00:00I come to the floor today to speak about something critical to our nation, and that is our nation's security.

00:06And for me, national security demands and starts with border security.

00:12We were through four years, open borders, high prices, paying for the American people.

00:20Well, with the signing of this big, beautiful bill into law, we are securing the border, we are finishing the wall,

00:26we are supporting federal law enforcement officers.

00:31You know, we also passed President and President Trump signed into law the Halt Fentanyl Act.

00:35It's now the law of the land, and today, law enforcement finally has the tools that they need to crack down on drug traffickers.

00:44These are policies that will save lives here in America.

00:49These policies will make our nation safer.

00:51For four long years, Joe Biden and Democrats flung open the border walls,

00:57and over 10 million illegal immigrants flooded into our country as a result of their irresponsible behavior.

01:07This invasion raised costs for American families.

01:11People saw it all throughout their lives.

01:13They saw it when they went to the doctor's office.

01:15They found it at the grocery store, and they found it in the housing market.

01:18This invasion made our communities less safe.

01:24Innocent Americans are still suffering the consequences.

01:28Just this week, in New York City, an off-duty Customs and Border Patrol Protection Officer was ambushed.

01:39Ambushed by two illegal immigrant criminals.

01:43They shot him in the throat.

01:45Mr. President, both of these illegal immigrant criminals had long criminal records.

01:53You say, how can that be in America, that somebody with a long criminal record is out there on the street shooting an officer of the law?

02:04Well, both of these illegal immigrant criminals entered the country illegally under Joe Biden.

02:09They were arrested multiple times in New York City.

02:15The minority leader's home city.

02:19Arrested multiple times.

02:22Immigration judges ordered deportations.

02:24But what happens in New York City in the minority leader's home city?

02:29They were released due to sanctuary city policies in his hometown.

02:35President Trump and Republicans have now made it a priority to enforce the law.

02:43Since taking office, President Trump has deported hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant criminals.

02:49Ice arrests in my home state of Wyoming, as well as in my neighboring state of Colorado,

02:53are now five times higher than they were during the same time period under Joe Biden.

03:00A July poll by Harvard Harris shows that three out of four Americans support President Trump's efforts to deport illegal immigrant criminals.

03:09The message is clear.

03:11Keep making our communities safer.

03:14Illegal border crossings are now at their lowest level ever recorded.

03:21Zero, zero illegal immigrants were released into our country over the past two months.

03:28Hard to believe, but true.

03:30The number is zero.

03:32President Trump has successfully ended catch and release.

03:36By contrast, under Joe Biden and the Democrats,

03:3910,000 illegal immigrants crossed our southern border on a daily basis.

03:43Republicans promised the American people we would secure the border,

03:49and we are keeping our word.

03:51The law we passed finishes the wall.

03:54It provides $75 billion for immigration and customs enforcement.

04:00That gives our agents the resources that they need to continue deporting illegal immigrant criminals.

04:06Our law allows and helps them hire, train, and retain border patrol agents.

04:12It even gives the agents a bonus.

04:17That's what we need to do to enforce the law.

04:19Republicans are committed to help fight back against child trafficking.

04:23This is why our law funds $300 million to vet those who sponsor children who show up at the border without an adult.

04:32A recent report from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General is clarifying to all of us who have read it.

04:50The report found that the Biden administration lost track of hundreds of thousands of these unaccompanied children.

05:00In over 80 percent of the cases, the report says, the Biden administration didn't even have accurate contact information for the sponsors.

05:11In all, our new law is the most comprehensive border security investment in American history.

05:18It's invested in immigration enforcement and border security.

05:22Not a single Democrat supported these policies.

05:25Democrats continue to today to be the party of open borders and unsafe communities.

05:32They made our country weaker.

05:36They made our country poorer.

05:38They made our country less safe.

05:40Things have changed now.

05:42Across the country, ICE agents are doing excellent work enforcing the law and keeping our communities safe.

05:49Earlier this month, ICE conducted a lawful raid of a Los Angeles facility that produces marijuana.

05:55Federal officers arrested 361 criminal illegal immigrants.

06:02Many were convicted rapists, kidnappers, and child predators.

06:07Federal agents also rescued 10 children from forced labor at that marijuana production facility.

06:15Eight of them were unaccompanied minors who had been trafficked into our country and exploited.

06:21Last month, ICE arrested 1,361 illegal immigrant criminals in Houston, Texas.

06:29Those criminals were in our communities because of Democrats' open border policies.

06:35Now they are off the streets thanks to an administration that is committed to our nation's security.

06:41As law enforcement does its job, they are increasingly under attack.

06:47They are under attack amazingly from criminals, and they are under attack from the radical left.

06:56ICE agents have been demonized, doxed, and demoralized.

07:01Attacks against ICE agents have soared over 800 percent in the last year.

07:07In California, as ICE agents rescued children from forced labors,

07:10a violent mob of left-wing activists threw rocks and even opened fire on them.

07:18Now, some Democrats in Congress downplayed it.

07:21They dismissed it.

07:21They defended the violence, as the Democrats tend to do.

07:26One Democrat even said the operation was, in their words, a misuse of federal resources.

07:32Let me be clear.

07:35Rescuing trafficked children, it's not a use, never a use, or a misuse of taxpayer money.

07:46If Democrats believe otherwise, they have truly lost their moral compass.

07:52Law enforcement deserves our support, especially as they are protecting children

07:56and when they are getting dangerous criminals off the street.

08:02This is common sense.

08:03It's exactly what immigration and customs agents are doing, and they are doing it very well.

08:08The American people have been clear.

08:10They want secure borders.

08:12They want safer communities.

08:14And that's what Republicans are delivering.

08:16So, Mr. President, I will assure you, Republicans will continue to protect our children,

08:21protect our communities, and protect our country.

08:24Thank you, Mr. President.

08:25I yield the floor.

08:27Suggest the absence of a quorum.

08:30The clerk will call the roll.

08:32Ms. Elsa Brooks.

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