Andy Biggs: “I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for organizing this. To be honest with you, I really can't believe we still have to…”

“I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for organizing this. To be honest with you, I really can't believe we still have to have this conversation. The idea that the United States of America should turn a blind eye to protecting its national borders violates one of the few responsibilities enumerated to the Federal Government in the Constitution, the one we just swore an oath to just a couple weeks ago, to ensure the security of our Nation and provide for its defense. How can anyone argue that we are safer as a nation by not having any idea who is entering our country today? Unlike many Members of Congress, I was born and raised in southern Arizona, mere miles to the Mexican border, not too far away, an hour or so drive. I have met with Border Patrol agents and ranchers who live in the region several times alone recently. There is no other way to put this: The situation on the American side of the border is dire and equally as grave on the other side. For 8 years under the Obama administration, the Federal Government effectively told Americans that their safety and their sovereignty were not important. They told Border Patrol and ICE agents that the jobs they were doing were essentially pointless, because the Obama administration was going to find as many ways as possible to prevent further border security and circumvent the immigration laws passed by Congress, including reducing the pay of Border Patrol agents.…”