Feenstra: Securing our border and protecting our families
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Last December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported that more than 302,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended at our southern border, the highest number of crossings ever recorded in a single month in American history. This figure also comes on the heels of a CBP report confirming that more than 785,000 illegal immigrants were encountered at our border since last October alone. The numbers don’t lie. Our border is wide open thanks to President Biden’s ridiculous policies that encourage illegal immigration and fail to enforce our nation’s laws.
I’ve been to the border and seen the crisis firsthand. I can confidently say that the situation is far worse than President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas care to admit. Terrorists, drug traffickers, foreign nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, and illegal immigrants are pouring over our open border with no vetting whatsoever. Our border crisis not only threatens our national security, but it also jeopardizes the safety of our families and rural communities.
While President Biden and his liberal advisors stick their heads in the sand and ignore the crisis at hand, I have introduced and supported legislation to restore order at our border and protect our families.
Every year, since I was first elected to serve Iowa’s 4th Congressional District in Congress, I have introduced Sarah’s Law in memory of 21-year-old Sarah Root who was senselessly killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving while drunk. Sadly, due to a blatant loophole in federal law, the illegal immigrant posted bail and was released from jail without ever facing a jury and being held accountable for his actions. My bill would close this loophole and ensure that any illegal immigrant who seriously injures or kills an American citizen is immediately detained, punished, and deported. I have zero tolerance for these horrific tragedies, and I am hopeful that Sarah’s Law can help save lives and finally deliver justice for the Root family.
In May, I also voted for the Secure the Border Act – the strongest border security bill in recent memory – alongside my Republican colleagues. This legislation will end the lawlessness at our border by fully funding our border patrol agents, maintaining Title 42 so that we can swiftly deport illegal immigrants, and finishing construction of the border wall. Senate Democrats have intentionally stalled passage of this legislation for too long. It’s time for liberals and President Biden to get serious about our border crisis and ensure that this bill becomes law.
Additionally, I introduced the Build the Wall and Fight Fentanyl Act to seize money from the drug cartels to finish the border wall and fund fentanyl treatment and recovery services for our children, our families, and our rural communities. During a recent trip to the southern border, I had the opportunity to see where border patrol agents safely hold the staggering amount of drugs and fentanyl that they intercept from drug traffickers. It’s mind-blowing. Because of President Biden’s open-border agenda, tens of thousands of pounds of fentanyl have been apprehended by law enforcement. However, we know that fentanyl is still making its way to rural Iowa. My legislation will keep deadly drugs out of our rural communities and help secure our border for good by beating the drug cartels at their own sick game.
The American people deserve a secure border and safe communities. I will continue to work with my conservative colleagues to finish the wall, defeat the drug cartels, secure our border, and protect our families. Iowans deserve nothing less.
Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) has represented Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District since 2021.
