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Newhouse: President Biden Has a Duty to Act

September 28, 2021

Legislation demands Biden Administration address border crisis, enforce immigration laws

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after introducing H.Res. 676, a resolution urging the Biden Administration to fully enforce our immigration laws in light of the current surge at the border and the ongoing, self-created border crisis.

"There is no doubt about it: There is a crisis at our southern border, and the Biden Administration's reversal of our immigration policies is directly responsible for creating it," said Rep. Newhouse. "An open southern border threatens our national security and the safety of all Americans. In order to prevent the continuation of the security and humanitarian crises we are seeing at our southern border, it is critical that our federal government enforce our nation's immigration laws, reimplement successful policies from the Trump Administration, and commit further support for our Border Patrol agents and Customs enforcement officers. President Biden has a duty to act."

Click here to read the full text of the resolution.

Background:

  • The resolution also requests the Biden Administration take the following actions:
    • Reinstate the Remain in Mexico Policy
    • Continue to enforce Title 42 expulsions.
    • Commit more CBP and ICE agents and resources to the southern border
    • Support Governor Abbott's September 20th statewide emergency disaster request.
  • In response to the ongoing crisis at the southern border, Rep. Newhouse has also done the following this year:
    • In March, Rep. Newhouse sent a letter along with 70 colleagues requesting that the U.S. Government Accountability Office investigate the Biden Administration's suspension of border wall construction.
    • In April, Rep. Newhouse alongside House Appropriations Republicans sent a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris regarding the staggering number of migrants that have been apprehended while illegally crossing the southwest border during this Administration's first 100 days, urging her to use funds appropriated for border security to immediately address the crisis.
    • In May, Rep. Newhouse visited the southern border with some of his Republican colleagues to see the crisis firsthand.
    • In July, Rep. Newhouse signed Rep. Roy's discharge petition for H.R. 471, the Pause Act, which would reinstate the enforcement of President Donald Trump's Title 42 COVID protocols at the southern border.
  • Rep. Newhouse also served on the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Homeland Security, where he helped secure nearly $4.5 billion for the border wall, increased funds for Border Patrol agents, increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention capacity, and increased funds for additional border technology, including autonomous vehicles, towers, integrated intelligence software.

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