|
|
We have a crisis at our Southern border. It's not only a humanitarian crisis, but we also have an influx of illegal drugs coming into our country that is having devastating effects on our communities nationwide. I visited our Southern border three times in 2019 in both Arizona and Texas. In Texas, there is a huge problem with illegal immigrants crossing the border and sex traffickers operating in the shadows, profiting on the exploitation of young girls. In Arizona, there is a wide, coordinated network of people smuggling drugs across the border.
What do these illegal activities have in common? They are both operated by the criminal Mexican drug cartels.
Let me be clear- when drugs are smuggled over the border, it's the work of the cartels. When people cross the border illegally, it is with the help of the cartels. They are the common denominator and need to be stopped. While our border patrol agents and police do not have jurisdiction in Mexico, there are still things we can do to stop these threats. First, we need to disincentivize the cartels from smuggling drugs and people across the border by making it harder for them. The best way to do this is to build a strong wall at the border, which President Trump is doing. We have already completed 100 miles of the wall since the President took office, with much more under construction. This will make it harder for the cartels to cross illegally and direct them toward ports of entry, where we can both stop the flow of illegal drugs and properly document any person seeking to immigrate to America.
During my trip to Arizona this week, I saw parts of the border where the wall had been recently finished, parts where it was under construction and, unfortunately, parts where all that separated the U.S. and Mexico was a makeshift waist-high fence. Border patrol agents confirmed that the wall is enabling them to better do their jobs, but they need more help. Not only are the cartels very well-coordinated and operating with equipment that is as good or better than our own, but they are getting smarter about how they break the law. I have talked a lot about the dangerous drug fentanyl. This drug is coming into our country in mass quantities because cartels are foregoing other drugs, like marijuana, for fentanyl because it is easier to conceal, takes less manpower to smuggle across the border and is highly profitable on the black market.
Organized crime, in the form of the drug cartels, control the Mexican side of our Southern border. While they are despicable criminals, they are smart. They use technology and planning to monitor what our border patrol agents are doing and find new ways to break our laws. We need fight for the integrity of our border, and the safety of American citizens, with the same intensity. I applaud President Trump for following through on his promise of building the wall and his leadership on the border crisis that has brought apprehensions down for eight straight months, from 144,000 in May 2019 to roughly 37,000 in January 2020.
I will continue to fight for policies in Congress that will help build the wall, secure our border, protect American citizens and stop criminal cartels from smuggling drugs over our border and taking advantage of people with the promise of coming to America illegally.
Below is a video I made from Nogales, Arizona, looking into Mexico, as well as some photos from my trip.
|
Thanks to everyone in the Town of Fredonia, Adell and Howards Grove who joined me this week for town hall meetings. It was great to see all of you!
As your Representative, I believe that one of the most important parts of my job is hearing what issues matter most to you. These town hall meetings are one of the best ways I can make sure your voice and our Wisconsin values are being heard in Washington.
Stay tuned into to my E-newsletter for updates on my next town hall meetings.
|
The 2020 U.S. Census is just around the corner. The U.S. Census Bureau will begin circulating their questionnaire on Thursday, March 12. Each household in the country will have the ability to complete the Census online, by phone or by mail. Click here for more information on how to complete the Census.
The United States conducts the Census every 10 years, and it is important because of the number of laws that are based off of demographic and economic information, as well as the makeup of Congress itself. For this reason, it is important we get it right. However, this also creates incentive for people to misreport and cheat the Census. For example, the entire state of California is a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, meaning that local law enforcement is directed by lawmakers not to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the reporting of illegal immigrants living in the state. This means that if someone is living illegally in California, they may be counted on the Census. According to some research, at least 12 million illegal immigrants reside in the United States. With the average Congressional district containing roughly 700,000 people, this means that up to 17 members of Congress could be representing populations entirely made up of illegal immigrants, instead of U.S. citizens.
At a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing last week, I spoke with the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Dr. Steven Dillingham, and Associate Director, Albert Fontenot Jr. Neither could provide answers that I felt sufficiently addressed my concerns.
During my questioning of Dr. Dillingham, I asked him how they avoid double counting individuals. For example, if an 18-year old from Oshkosh attends college in Illinois, his parents might count him as a dependent. According to Dr. Dillingham, however, he should be counted in Illinois. This begs the question of how many other nuances like this are in the census that could lead to miscounting? Later on in my questioning of Dr. Dillingham, he openly admits that the Census counts people living in our country illegally.
My questioning of Mr. Fontenot didn't go any better. There are three things he said in our discussion that I find egregious. First, Mr. Fontenot said that throughout the Census, information that further explains how to answer questions is often found online in "dropdown boxes". This means that they are relying on everybody taking the Census to do extra work in order to correctly complete the survey, instead of providing them with a survey that is easy to complete and will contain accurate information. Second, I asked Mr. Fontenot how they cross check information they receive in order to make sure it's accurate. He told me that they use old surveys as references. This means that they are checking new information for flaws with old information that was subject to the same flaws. Third, after my line of questioning, Mr. Fontenot affirmed what I had been saying by stating that all of my concerns were not "a unique and new problem".
When you are filling out your Census this year, please be sure to ask questions and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.
|
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. P's Eatery in Ripon for winning the Ripon Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award!
I graduated from Homestead High School in Mequon. I was happy to return to the area I grew up in and support the Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation at their Tartan Bash.
Happy Presidents’ Day. My offices were open on Presidents' Day and are always happy to serve you.
The proceeds from the 10th annual Taste of Chocolate event in Plymouth went to LESPWA International, who help many people in Haiti and around the world. I was glad to support this important event.
|
As your Congressman, I’m here to serve you. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to my offices in Fond du Lac and Washington. If you enjoyed this newsletter be sure to forward it to your family and friends so they can stay informed on what I’m doing in Washington and the Sixth District.
You can also stay up-to-the-minute by following me on Facebook (Congressman Glenn Grothman), Twitter (@RepGrothman) and Instagram (@RepGlennGrothman).
Sincerely,
Member of Congress |
|
|
