09.25.23

Sullivan Again Demands President Biden Secure the Border

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) released the following statement regarding the record-breaking number of illegal border crossings on the southern border this August.

“There are no excuses for the Biden administration’s disastrous handling of our southern border. The numbers released by Customs and Border Protection reveal more than 200,000 illegal encounters last month ALONE. It is a humanitarian crisis. It is a national security crisis. It is a health crisis. Americans nationwide, including Alaskans, are impacted by this crisis.

“This dereliction of duty by President Biden is allowing thousands of criminals, including human and drug traffickers, to pour into our country. We are already dealing with a scourge of drug overdoses nationwide—largely driven by fentanyl. Alaska is no exception. My state experienced the largest percent increase in drug overdose deaths in the country. Until we get our wide-open border under control—and I’ve been there to see it—this problem will only get worse under President Biden’s inaction.

“I’m calling on President Biden, yet again, to do his job and secure our southern border. Even Democrats are finally becoming outraged at this failure to act. The President needs to step up, enforce the law, and put an end to this catastrophe.”

Senator Sullivan is a cosponsor of the Securing Our Border Act, which would redirect $15 billion from IRS enforcement funds that were included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to instead be spent on border security. The legislation is endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council, the exclusive representative of approximately 18,000 agents and support personnel assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Background:

  • In March 2021, Senator Sullivan visited the southern border on a congressional delegation (CODEL) with U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).
  • In August 2022, all 50 Senate Democrats blocked Senator Sullivan’s amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that would have directed $500 million to be allocated to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to secure the southern border. The funds were instead earmarked for sustainability and environmental programs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

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