Rep. Burlison Introduces the State Border Defense Act
WASHINGTON- Yesterday, Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-07) introduced the State Border Defense Act which would allow states to enforce the provisions of federal immigration law and fight back against President Joe Biden’s failed immigration policies. This bill is the House companion to legislation introduced by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) earlier this year.
“The Biden Administration has facilitated an intentional invasion at our southern border, and President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas refuse to even acknowledge the problem, much less do anything to stop it,” said Rep. Burlison.
Instead of enforcing the law and securing our border, they have implemented catch and release policies that are encouraging illegal immigration and putting our national security at risk. When states have stepped up to secure the border, the Biden Administration has sued them to force them to stop. If President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas won’t act, they need to get out of the way so our states can.
The State Border Defense Act would allow states to enforce federal immigration laws and construct barriers on federal lands or in waters along the southern border to prevent illegal immigration.
Co-sponsors for this legislation include Representatives Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Randy Weber (TX-14), Matt Rosendale (MT-02), Andy Ogles (TN-05), Josh Brecheen (OK-02), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), and Eli Crane (AZ-02).
Background:
Since taking office in January 2021, the Biden Administration has rolled back successful Trump Era border policies that were working to secure our border. This has led to an unprecedented 6.2 million illegal border crossings and 7.5. million enforcement encounters nationwide. This includes 169 people whose name appear on the terrorist watchlist were stopped from trying to cross the southern border in fiscal year 2023, an all-time high, and more than the encounters in FY17 through FY22 combined. Instead of continuing policies that were working to secure the border and discourage illegal immigration, President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have chosen to release millions of illegal aliens into the country.
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