News from Congressman Arrington

Securing Our Nation’s Border

Dear Friend,

Our porous, unsecure border has left our country vulnerable to drugs, gangs, and human trafficking, and now infectious diseases. Border security is national security and, as such, is my top priority as your Representative.

I recently joined my colleague, Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and other Members of the Border Caucus at the U.S.-Mexico border. We met with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), sheriffs, ranchers, and other local stakeholders.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump Administration has taken significant steps to strengthen our border and protect our citizens from the virus. Feedback from CBP, law enforcement, and other interested stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive on protective orders that have temporarily halted most migrant flow into the country and allowed agents to focus on the bad actors that intend to do us harm. However, more can be done.

Throughout the trip, I was struck by the lack of manpower and resources available to our federal agents and local law enforcement. Inadequate manpower is the biggest challenge, resulting in overwhelmed agents and understaffed borders. Another reoccurring message throughout the trip was the need for air support, which would allow for more effective and efficient control of the border.

For decades, we have been sold a false narrative that CBP exists to stop all immigration. This could not be further from the truth. CBP works to safely process legal migrants, as well as protect the private property of landowners, who are all too often harmed by illegal immigrants cutting fences, starting fires, harming their livestock, and leaving belongings, drugs, and trash in their wake.

We must increase manpower and resources for the men and women in the CBP, DEA, and local jurisdictions to ensure they have what they need to safely and effectively do their job to secure our border and protect the American people.  

Please know it is an honor to be your Representative. If you would like to receive regular updates on important policy issues and know how I am fighting for West Texas, please follow my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JodeyArrington, my twitter page at https://twitter.com/RepArrington or visit my website www.arrington.house.gov and sign up for my e-newsletter here. To unsubscribe from future updates, please click here.

Your friend and fellow West Texan,

Jodey C. Arrington
Member of Congress

 

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