“For me, national security demands and starts with border security. With the signing of our Big Beautiful Bill into law, we’re securing the border. We’re finishing the Wall. We’re supporting federal law enforcement agents.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor about the importance of securing America’s borders. He also discussed how the Big Beautiful Bill will help secure the border and make American communities safer.
Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.
Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:
“I come to the Floor today to speak about our nation’s security. For me, national security demands and starts with border security.
“With the signing of our Big Beautiful Bill into law, we’re securing the border. We’re finishing the Wall. We’re supporting federal law enforcement agents. We’ve also passed and President Trump signed the HALT Fentanyl Act. It is now the law of the land. Today, law enforcement finally has the tools they need to crack down on drug traffickers. These policies will save lives. These policies will make America safer.
“For four long years, Joe Biden and the Democrats flung open our borders. Over 10 million illegal immigrants flooded into our country as a result. This invasion raised costs for American families. People saw it at the doctor’s office, at the grocery store, and in the housing market. This invasion made our communities less safe. Innocent Americans are still suffering the consequences.
“Just this week, in New York City, an off-duty Customs and Border Protection officer was ambushed – ambushed – by two illegal immigrant criminals. They shot him in the throat. Both of these illegal immigrant criminals had long criminal records. Both of these illegal immigrant criminals entered the country under Joe Biden. They were arrested multiple times in New York City. Immigration judges ordered their deportations. Yet each time, they were released due to Sanctuary City policies in New York City.
“President Trump and Republicans have now made it a priority to enforce the law. Since taking office, President Trump has deported hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant criminals. ICE arrests in my home state of Wyoming as well as in Colorado are five times higher than they were during the same period under Joe Biden.
“A July Harvard-Harris poll shows that three out of four Americans support President Trump’s efforts to deport illegal immigrant criminals. The message is clear. Keep making our communities safer. Illegal border crossings are now at their lowest level ever reported. Zero illegal immigrants were released into our country over the past two months. That’s right. Zero. President Trump has successfully ended catch and release. By contrast, under Joe Biden and the Democrats, 10,000 illegal immigrants crossed our southern border on a daily basis. Republicans promised the American people we would secure the border. We are keeping our word.
“The law we passed finishes the Wall. It provides $75 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This gives our agents the resources they need to continue deporting illegal immigrant criminals. Our law also helps hire, train, and retain Border Patrol agents. It even gives these agents a bonus.
“Republicans are committed to help fight back against child trafficking. That is why our law funds $300 million to vet those who sponsor children who show up at the border without an adult. A recent report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General is clarifying, disturbing, and frightening. The report found that the Biden administration lost track of hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied children. In over 80 percent of the cases, the administration didn’t even have accurate contact information for the sponsors.
“In all, our new law is the most comprehensive border security investment in American history – $170 billion invested in immigration enforcement and border security. Not a single Democrat supported these policies. Democrats are the party of open borders and unsafe communities.
“Across the country, ICE agents are doing excellent work enforcing the law and keeping our communities safe. Earlier this month, ICE conducted a lawful raid of a Los Angeles facility that produces marijuana. Federal officers arrested 361 criminal illegal immigrants. Many were convicted rapists, kidnappers, and child predators. Federal agents also rescued 10 children from forced labor at that facility. Eight of them were unaccompanied minors who had been trafficked to our country and exploited. Last month, ICE arrested 1,361 illegal immigrant criminals in Houston, Texas. Those criminals were in our communities because of Democrats’ open border policies. Now, they’re off our streets thanks to an administration committed to national security.
“As law enforcement does their job, they are increasingly under attack. They’re under attack from criminals. They’re under attack from the radical left. ICE agents are being demonized, doxed, and demoralized. Attacks against ICE agents have soared over 800 percent in the past year. In California, as ICE agents rescued children from forced labor, a violent mob of left-wing activists threw rocks and even opened fire on them.
“Some Democrats in Congress downplayed, dismissed, and defended the violence. One Democrat even said the operation was a ‘misuse of federal resources.’ Let me be clear. Rescuing trafficked children is never a misuse of taxpayer money. If Democrats believe otherwise, they have truly lost their moral compass. Law enforcement deserves our support – especially when they protect kids and get dangerous criminals off our streets. This is common sense. That is exactly what Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are doing – and doing well.
“The American people are clear. They want secure borders. They want safer communities. That’s what Republicans are delivering. Republicans will continue to protect our children, protect our communities, and protect our country.”
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