Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2- the Secure the Border Act. Lucas supported the legislation. 

“America has long been a land of immigrants. Today, however, America’s immigration system is broken and the situation at our southern border can be described with one word: crisis. We face a humanitarian crisis and national security crisis as an unprecedented number of migrants flood the border,” said Congressman Lucas. “On day one, President Biden halted construction of the southern border wall, reinstated catch-and-release, and undercut Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts to enforce the law and combat illegal immigration. With the expiration of Title 42, the crisis at the border will worsen. 

“House Republicans’ H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, delivers a solution to a crisis that not only affects cities and states along the border- but every city and state across the country. The Secure the Border Act increases the number of Border Patrol agents, it ends catch-and-release, it reinstates the effective Remain-in-Mexico policy, and it resumes construction of the border wall. 

“I will be the first to admit, this bill is not perfect. I share the concerns of many about stabilizing our agricultural workforce and ensuring those who come to our country legally have the opportunity to build their own ‘American Dream’. But given the importance of ending this crisis, I cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The Secure the Border Act is a plan that secures our border and addresses the growing crisis, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass a comprehensive bill that secures the southern border, reforms immigrant visa programs, and protects our communities.”

The Secure the Border Act would:

• Force the Biden Administration to restart construction of the border wall,
• Deploy technology to the southern and northern border,
• Increase the number of Border Patrol agents and provide bonus pay,
• Require transparency regarding illegal crossings from the Department of Homeland Security,
• Strengthen current law to protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking,
• End catch-and-release,
• End abuse of executive immigration authority,
• Strengthen and streamline the asylum process.

Click here for a section-by-section summary of the bill. 

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