Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman and my friend as well for holding this Special Order tonight. I agree with the comments my colleagues have made here on the floor this evening. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to underscore the severity of the situation at our southern border. We are in the midst of a real crisis, and we must act now. According to Homeland Security, in the last 2 months, our Border Patrol has apprehended roughly 140,000 illegal immigrants at the southern border. This is an increase of 86 percent over the same period last year. Additionally, there were more than 25,000 families apprehended last November. This is the highest monthly number ever recorded by Border Patrol. Mr. Speaker, here in Congress, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are talking about this issue as though it is something new. This is not a new issue. For the past decade, the people who I represent in southeast Alabama have consistently expressed to me their frustrations with our country's illegal immigration problem. I believe now is the time that we must use every tool available to enhance border security. And we must do it now. We cannot wait another decade. I really appreciate the gentlewoman taking this time, her leadership on this issue tonight, and her giving me the opportunity to speak. {time} 1745”