“Democrats have spent the past two months trying to handcuff ICE and Border Patrol agents. Republicans are going to make sure that ICE and Border Patrol are fully funded for as long as President Trump is in the White House.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) today delivered remarks about how Senate Republicans will fully fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol for the next three years.
Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.
Sen. Barrasso’s remarks as prepared:
“Republicans are going to fully fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. We are going to do it through the end of President Trump’s term. We can do so without a single Democrat vote. We can move forward alone. The Democrats want to defund law enforcement in America. They want to end immigration enforcement in the United States. Republicans will never let that happen.
“Senator Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats engineered this dangerous, reckless shutdown. It is a shutdown American security and law enforcement. They’ve done it for one reason. Democrats would rather protect illegal immigrant criminals than protect law-abiding American citizens.
“For the last two months, Democrats have fought to turn America into a sanctuary country. They voted to defund ICE. They voted to defund Border Patrol. They tried to ban masks on ICE agents. That would allow their gangs of radical thugs to threaten agents at their homes and terrorize their families. These were the Democrat demand in negotiations. They had one thing in common: they would make America less safe. That is why Republicans have rejected them.
“Thanks to Republicans, immigration enforcement and border security will be fully funded. They will be funded without conceding a single radical Democrat demand. Democrats have spent the past two months trying to handcuff ICE and Border Patrol agents. Republicans are going to make sure that ICE and Border Patrol are fully funded for as long as President Trump is in the White House.
“Here’s what comes next. I met with President Trump at the White House on Friday. Chairman Graham of the Senate Budget Committee was there also. We shared with the President that Senate Republicans are not slowing down. We are united around a targeted, focused reconciliation bill. We are moving immediately and quickly to fully fund and strengthen ICE and Border Patrol. We will do it with a simple majority here in the United States Senate. We will do it for the long term. No more hostage-taking by radical Democrats. The safety and security of the American people is too important.
“Senate Republicans intend to meet President Trump’s June 1 deadline. The men and women of ICE and Border Patrol are American heroes. They protect our nation from murderers, drug traffickers, and rapists. They protect our nation from repeat illegal immigrant criminals. These are individuals who should not have been let into the country in the first place. When Democrats obstruct this critical work, innocent Americans pay the price.
“Remember Sheridan Gorman. She was just 18 years old and a student. Just last month in Chicago, she was shot and killed in cold blood by an illegal immigrant criminal. Sheridan’s killer entered our country in 2023. The Biden administration let him in. He was one of the 10 million illegal immigrants allowed to enter our country. Chicago’s sanctuary city laws shielded him from deportation.
“Don’t forget Richard Williams. He was an 83-year-old United States Air Force Veteran. Last month, in New York City, he was shoved onto subway tracks by an illegal immigrant criminal. He died from his injuries. His killer had a lengthy criminal record. New York’s sanctuary city laws protected him.
“Sheridan Gorman deserved better. Richard William deserved better. Every American citizen and every American community deserves better. That is what Republicans are fighting for.
“From Day One, President Trump and Republicans have fought alone to secure the border and enforce the law. Democrats responded with opposition, obstruction, and extremism. Republicans will do what is necessary to fully fund America’s national security. We will protect law-abiding American citizens.
“The American people have demanded secure borders and safe communities. President Trump and Republican leadership will continue to deliver it. Senator Schumer and Democrats may scream. They will not stop us.”
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