Matt Rosendale: “My amendment No. 73 would prohibit funds from being used to enforce Secretary Mayorkas' memo prohibiting workforce…”

“My amendment No. 73 would prohibit funds from being used to enforce Secretary Mayorkas' memo prohibiting workforce immigration enforcement. With the stroke of a pen, Secretary Mayorkas eliminated a key method of interior enforcement and required our Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, the ICE agents, to fight with one hand tied behind their back. Right now, there are over 16.8 million illegal aliens in our country, and estimates suggest that upward of 65 percent of the illegal aliens are employed. Businessowners and ranchers in Montana work hard to ensure they are in compliance with Federal immigration law, and this memo punishes law- abiding businesses that refuse to hire illegal aliens. Additionally, Americans should not be expected to compete in the labor market with illegal aliens who are depressing wages and keeping good-paying jobs away from American citizens. President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas' refusal to allow ICE to do their job and enforce our Nation's laws is a clear dereliction of duty and presents risk to our country's national security. Simply put, my amendment would allow ICE agents to do their job enforcing immigration law with the most effective methods possible. Under President Trump, workforce enforcement operations were common practice, making it clear to illegal aliens and the employers that there would be consequences for breaking the law, putting all businesses on a level playing field.…”