House Democrats Launch New Border Security Task Force

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The newly formed task force will provide a forum for House Democrats to contribute to ongoing discussions regarding border security.

A group of 26 House Democrats launched a new border security task force on Tuesday to address the influx of “irregular migration” at the southern border.

The “Democrats for Border Security Task Force,” co-chaired by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), is also aimed at countering “the surge of illicit narcotics” in the United States.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr. Cuellar said he believes that “it’s important for Democrats to talk about strong border security and still be respectful of immigrants’ rights.”

“For so long the Republicans have had a narrative about the border being a dangerous place and out of control. And I think it’s important that Democrats also have a narrative about border security,” he said.

“We’re calling for action,” Mr. Cuellar stated. “We certainly want to see the Senate border deal passed.”

Republicans have recently walked away from the Senate border deal, arguing that its provisions weren’t strong enough to prevent the influx of illegal immigrants.

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“Democrats need a forum to approach border security policy as the GOP continues to play partisan politics with the issue,” Mr. Cuellar said in a statement.

“The crisis at our border demands solutions today, and it is unfortunate that a bipartisan Senate bill aimed at addressing the situation was killed before we even had a chance to debate its contents,” he added.

The newly formed task force will provide a forum for House Democrats to contribute to ongoing discussions regarding border security. They will hold meetings with administration officials, NGOs, and local officials from border communities.

Resolution Denouncing Biden’s ‘Worst Border Security Crisis’

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a Republican-led resolution that denounces the Biden administration’s immigration policies.

The resolution, led by Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), accuses President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of creating “the worst border security crisis in the Nation’s history.”

The resolution passed the House on a 226-193 vote, with 14 Democrats voting in favor of the measure.

It raises concerns about the Biden administration’s approach to illegal immigration, “including the dismantling of effective border security measures, the mass release of illegal immigrants into American communities, and the refusal to utilize key authorities to address the crisis.”

“The current state of our nation’s border security is unsustainable,” Ms. De La Cruz said in a statement.

A Texas National Guard soldier watches over a group of more than 1,000 illegal immigrants who had crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico to Eagle Pass, Texas, on Dec. 18, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)
A Texas National Guard soldier watches over a group of more than 1,000 illegal immigrants who had crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico to Eagle Pass, Texas, on Dec. 18, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)

“The policies put forth by the Biden administration have resulted in the worst border security crisis in our nation’s history, endangering our communities and straining our resources,” she added.

The resolution alleges that the Biden administration had “purposely violated United States immigration law” and “terminated these asylum cooperative agreements as part of its open-borders agenda.”

It urges the Biden administration to end its “catch-and-release policy,” reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols, establish asylum cooperative agreements, and use expedited removal authority.

“We urge the administration to immediately begin utilizing the authorities available to them to regain control of the situation and protect the interests of the American people,” Ms. De La Cruz added.

The Biden administration has been grappling with a historic crisis at the southern border due to an unprecedented surge of illegal immigrants.

Republicans have blamed President Joe Biden for eliminating and reversing policies put in place by the Trump administration and thus causing chaos at the border.

Illegal crossings have surpassed 8.8 million nationwide since President Biden assumed office, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.

Emel Akan contributed to this report.

Original News Source Link – Epoch Times

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