05.11.23

Sullivan: Biden’s Border Crisis Impacts Alaskans and Americans in All 50 States

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) released the following statement ahead of the impending expiration of Title 42, an existing authority that allows the President to quickly expel individuals illegally crossing America’s borders.

“With the expiration of Title 42 authority today, our nation’s southern border crisis is escalating into an unprecedented catastrophe. There have been more than six million illegal crossings since President Biden assumed office. Now that Title 42 is expiring, daily illegal crossings are expected to triple. Alaskans and Americans in all 50 states are experiencing the toll of this avoidable tragedy.

“It is a humanitarian crisis. It is a national security crisis. It is a health crisis. Hundreds of thousands of children have been trafficked and exploited. Based on the numbers of those apprehended, it is obvious that thousands of criminals, including individuals on the terrorist watch-list, are illegally entering our country. Drug overdoses – largely driven by fentanyl – are now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 45. In 2021, drug overdose deaths in Alaska increased by the largest percentage of any state.

“Even the most rural parts of Alaska are feeling the impact of Biden’s open southern border. And believe me, it is wide open. Anyone in the Biden administration or media who continues to peddle the falsehood that the border is secure should just go there and watch illegal immigrants cross the Rio Grande in the middle of the night by the hundreds.

“As I’ve said before, this is a dereliction of duty by the President. President Biden has created a tragedy of immense proportions. In his first 100 days, Joe Biden stopped construction of the border wall, halted deportations and suspended the successful ‘remain in Mexico’ policy. He continues to threaten to veto legislation that would mandate many proven solutions and also continues to advocate for real cuts to the Border Patrol. The President needs to do his job, enforce the law, and end the incentives feeding this crisis immediately.”

Senator Sullivan is a co-sponsor of the Border Security Act which would redirect $15 billion from IRS enforcement funds that were included in theInflation 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 Border Patrol 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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