“American families deserve safe communities. For too many, like those in Los Angeles, that safety feels out of reach. Republicans have a bold solution to change that. It starts with securing our borders and deporting illegal immigrant criminals. We have to pass it as quickly as possible.”

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate floor regarding the ongoing riots in Los Angeles, California. Senator Barrasso also called for quick passage of the Republican budget bill that includes a $175 billion investment for border security and interior enforcement.  

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

Sen. Barrasso remarks as prepared:

“When Americans turn on their TV sets and see what is happening on the streets of Los Angeles, they are sickened, horrified, and outraged. Yet we saw the Minority Leader of the United States Senate come to this floor this morning and say that these were ‘overwhelmingly peaceful.’ Nancy Pelosi yesterday said they were just ‘moments of exuberance.’

“Do they not see the news? Do they not watch the news? Let’s look at The New York Times front page story. This is a burning police car. These are people on an overhead looking down on it. The headline is, ‘Protesters burned a highway patrol vehicle in Los Angeles.’

“These are not peaceful protests. These are riots. They threaten public safety, and my Democrat colleagues call them peaceful. They are wrong. These are attacks upon the law enforcement community of our nation. Republicans will not stand by as the violence rages in our country’s second largest city.

“California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are unable or unwilling to restore law and order. They have coddled these criminals from day one. Many of these criminals are illegal immigrants. Democrats are standing with the guy on the roof of a burning car, waving a Mexican flag, instead of standing with law-abiding citizens who just want to live a life with safety. That’s what Americans want. They want safety and prosperity. It is not what the Democrats are standing for.

“Americans are seeing local police officers as well as members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement are being brutally attacked with rocks, bricks, bottles, and concrete. Additionally, looters are using the unrest to break into local businesses, including a gas station, the Apple store, and jewelry stores. The Mayor of Los Angeles, the Governor of California, and the Minority Leader of the United States Senate say it’s mostly peaceful. That’s not what people are seeing when they turn on their TVs or turn to the front page of The New York Times.

“This rioting in Los Angeles is because President Trump is rightfully deporting violent illegal immigrant criminals. The Los Angeles Times reported this week, ‘L.A. officials struggle to curb ‘disgusting’ vandalism, thefts, fires, violence in downtown L.A.’ This is The Los Angeles Times. This is The New York Times. What are the Democrats not seeing that the rest of America is seeing?

“The Los Angeles Chief of Police admitted his officers were overwhelmed. He warned the violence has ‘gotten out of control.’ I guess he must be wrong and the Governor must be right. How liberal can you get? Radically liberal. Dangerously liberal. It is scary how liberal they are.

“President Trump is right to bring in the National Guard. This is not to escalate. It is to end the destruction and devastation. They are there because Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass refuse to restore order. Here you have it. The official stance of today’s radical Democrat Party is to side with illegal immigrants and rioters, not law-abiding Americans.

Remember who Democrats are protecting. Murderers. Rapists. Child abusers. Drug dealers. Gang members. The worst of the worst. Let me tell you about a few of the criminals ICE officers arrested this weekend. An illegal immigrant from Vietnam who was convicted of murder. An illegal immigrant from Ecuador who was convicted of drug trafficking. An illegal immigrant from Honduras who was arrested for dealing drugs. An illegal immigrant from Mexico who was convicted of manslaughter. An illegal immigrant from Mexico who was convicted of molesting a child. An illegal immigrant from the Philippines who was convicted of rape. That is the list that the Democrats are vowing to protect. It’s shameful.

“President Trump took all of these criminals off the streets. President Trump and Republicans are committed to public safety and enforcing the law. It is the most important thing to do. It’s also the popular thing to do. The polls prove it.

“Just this weekend, a CBS News poll showed Americans feel safer under President Trump’s immigration policies. Not by a slim margin. Not by a few points. By twelve points. Safer by double digits. A strong majority of Americans are happy with President Trump’s deportation policies. And this poll was before the riots tore Los Angeles apart. Support for President Trump’s policies has only gotten stronger since the riots began. Just yesterday, an Insider Advantage poll found a majority of Americans approve of President Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard amid the riots in Los Angeles. It is a twenty-point lead. That is a rock-solid call for law and order.

“Americans want safety. They want security. American families deserve safe communities. For too many, like those in Los Angeles, that safety feels out of reach. Republicans have a bold solution to change that. It starts with securing our borders and deporting illegal immigrant criminals. We have to pass it as quickly as possible. The American people are demanding it.

“Our budget bill invests $175 billion to stop the flood of illegal immigrants and illicit drugs in our communities. It hires 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. It hires 3,000 new Border Patrol agents. It provides bonuses to recruit, retain, and reward our brave ICE and Border Patrol agents.

“Our bill finishes the Wall. This will deter illegal immigrants. Our bill surges new technology to the border. This will cut off the pipeline of illegal drugs and criminals before they reach our communities. Our bill vastly expands our detention capacity. This will allow us to swiftly deport illegal immigrant criminals who threaten our safety. And Republicans aren’t stopping there. Our bill stops liberal states such as California from paying for healthcare with taxpayer money for 1.4 million illegal immigrants. That will strengthen Medicaid for those who need it.

“This bill is about delivering safe communities and a safe country for every American. Safe communities start with secure borders. Safer communities mean families can live free from constant fear and crime. Children can play in the streets. College students can go on runs on their campuses. Neighbors can open small businesses. Everyone can build a bright future. That is a future worth fighting for. And Republicans have a common-sense plan to make it a reality.

“Democrats in the Senate have vowed to fight us every step of the way. Every one of them still supports open borders. They tried that for four years. It was a disaster. Every state became a border state. Democrats have learned nothing. They continue to be the party of crime and criminals.

“Republicans are focused on results because we know Americans want safe cities, not sanctuary cities. That’s what the people voted for. That’s what they demanded. And that’s what we are going to continue to deliver. Republicans will never stop fighting to make America safer.”

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