Border Security and Immigration
The issues of Border Security are important to our district and to my work in Congress. I have visited the Texas-Mexico border to observe the security measures by the Department of Homeland Security first-hand.
Securing our nation’s borders and reforming the U.S. immigration system remains a important policy discussion.
Our northern and southern borders face a number of challenges every day including undocumented individuals illegally entering the United States to live and work; transnational criminals trying to smuggle in weapons and drugs; extremists who wish to disrupt our daily lives; and human traffickering – to name a few.
As a life-long Texan and former Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee, I understand the importance of securing our border. I believe it is our responsibility to ensure the Department of Homeland Security has the resources it needs to protect our border.
Border security is not only critical for homeland security, but it’s also necessary for continued economic growth.
Our North American neighbors – Canada and Mexico – are America’s largest export markets, so it is just as important to make sure our border policies enable the legal transportation of goods as it is that they stop the illegal transportation of products and people.
Even with Mexico’s increased security efforts, the United States has a lot to do to properly secure our border, and those steps must be taken as part of any immigration reform agreement.
I have received a number of emails and letters concerned that the Republican conference has committed to a bill that grants amnesty to persons who entered the country illegally. This is not true.
Speaker John Boehner introduced a list of guidelines he supported if we were to write an immigration reform bill. He has since pulled that document from consideration.
The document did not support amnesty. It did provide for a limited pathway to legal status, meaning people could be here legally after meeting a number of stringent requirements, but there was not a pathway to citizenship or amnesty.
I will keep you informed if there is a bill that supports immigration reform in the future and outline what the bill supports.