Jerry Moran: “I rise today to continue the conversation that I have just appreciated hearing from my colleague from Texas, Senator…”

“I rise today to continue the conversation that I have just appreciated hearing from my colleague from Texas, Senator Cornyn. I am once again on the floor to call attention to and express my great concern for the continuing humanitarian and national security crisis on our southern border. Since President Biden took office, we have seen the largest year-to- year increase in migrants crossing our southwest border. Congress has provided resources for physical security, for walls and fencing and personnel; however, to keep our Nation safe and secure, we need to change the administration's policies. While money and programs are important, the green light that this administration's policies provide to encourage people to come here has to come to an end. These are policies that encourage more migrants to attempt to enter our country illegally, and then, once they enter, there is no consequence. I am increasingly concerned about this administration's carefree attitude toward those seeking to abuse our asylum system and increase the use of administrative parole. These policies bog down the asylum system, making it harder for those it was designed to protect and help to utilize it while also stretching thin our border personnel. In fiscal year 2023 alone, the overworked men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection had approximately 2.5 million encounters along the southern border. The number of encounters in 2020--only 3 years earlier--was only 458,000.…”