On the recordJuly 15, 2015
Yesterday at a Judiciary Committee hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson didn't know who Kate Steinle was. I hope he sure remembers his own Border Patrol agent Javier Vega, Jr., a father, husband, and south Texan. Both of these fine Americans were gunned down by illegal aliens who had been deported multiple times, but were back in our country. Mr. Johnson couldn't tell me what percentage of the border was secure. Last month I visited the border and talked to some hard-working Border Patrol agents who are very frustrated. They keep apprehending the same people again and again. They are frustrated with our so-called catch-and-release program, where human smugglers called coyotes and drug smugglers with small loads or less than four or five people are simply let go. We have got to secure our border to avoid tragedies like Kate Steinle and Javier Vega, Jr. For that matter, we need to secure the borders to keep us safe. ____________________
