Beto O'Rourke: “I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham) for bringing her State's experience and perspective…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham) for bringing her State's experience and perspective to bear on this issue and for being a champion for the best in our traditions and our values. I would like to build on the gentlewoman's remarks and talk about one of the consequences of building walls. I have already made the case that the border is as secure as it has ever been. Those who study and understand security issues have come to the conclusion that extra miles of wall don't deter migrants. The lower levels of migration that we have seen to this country have a lot more to do with the U.S. economy and its struggling performance in the immediate aftermath of the Great Recession and throughout that road to recovery and, relatively speaking, the performance in other countries, including Mexico, that has afforded Mexican nationals more opportunity to stay there. The border is as secure as it has ever been. We have recently doubled the size of the Border Patrol. We are using the latest and greatest technology to remain as vigilant as possible, which we should. It is also important to know the character and quality of the Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection officers who man the line, who are at our ports, and who have one of the most difficult, dangerous jobs that anyone has in the Federal Government.…”