Glacier Country News

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - On June 1, 2023, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted to secure our nation’s borders through the passage of House Republican's H.R. 2: the Secure the Border Act. The passage of H.R. 2 comes the day before the expiration of Title 42, an existing authority that allows the President to expel individuals illegally crossing the border for the duration of COVID-19. The passed legislation directs border wall construction, invests in security technology, and increases border personnel, and mends the asylum system where Biden has abused it.

Congressman Zinke released the following statement following House Republicans taking the lead in securing our borders:

“Montanans and America know that the border is a mess. Every state is a border state – including Montana. We see it in our streets with sex trafficking, child trafficking, and drug trafficking. It is time to finish the Southern wall. It is time to secure our border. It is time to support our agents who put themselves on the line every day.”

To regain operational control of the U.S. international borders and keep the United States safe through the following means:

• Resume construction of the border wall  halted by President Biden
• Bolster border patrol by requiring the hiring of 22,000 officers and providing retention bonuses.
• Ending COVID-19 vaccine requirements for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees.
• Upgrade technology along U.S. borders.
• Authorizes grants to local police who can aid in the federal government's mission to secure the border.

This legislation also puts an end to the Biden administration’s catch-and-release policies, clarifies and strengthens the asylum process to deter meritless asylum seekers, and fix our asylum system where the Biden administration has abused it. 

BACKGROUND:

• In latest reported numbers, in March 2023 Border Patrol encountered 191,899 migrants at the Southwest Border. Of these, 12,374 are unaccompanied children who are vulnerable to human traffickers and coyotes.

• Halfway through FY2023, 1,233,067 migrants have been encountered by Border Patrol at the Southwest Border, of these 70,016 are unaccompanied children.
• On the Northern Border, there have already 3,830 encounters in only half of FY2023, which is already 71% larger than the FY2022 encounter number of 2,238.
• Nationwide, halfway through FY2023, 264,000 lbs. of drugs have been seized by CBP. That includes 13,900 lbs. of fentanyl, 75,600 lbs. of methamphetamine, and 75,600 lbs. of cocaine.

Original source can be found here.