Email from Rep. Dan Newhouse The last four years of inaction at the southern border resulted in over 10 million illegal immigrant encounters nationwide. Weekly Column - January 15, 2025 Delivering A Secure Border and Safe Immigration The last four years of inaction at the southern border resulted in over 10 million illegal immigrant encounters nationwide and a record-high number of violent, illegal criminals encountered throughout the United States. By terminating catch-and-release policies, ending the ‘Remain in Mexico’ program and a full stop on construction of the border wall, President Biden and Vice President Harris have created a crisis that now permeates through the entire country. Last week, to address the ongoing crisis caused by an unmanaged border, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act, with overwhelming bipartisan support. This critical legislation gives law enforcement the authority and resources to detain undocumented immigrants with a criminal record and is named in honor a young lady in Georgia who was murdered by an illegal immigrant while out on a jog. The legislation will be considered by the Senate this week, where it has already garnered bipartisan support. As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I am looking forward to working alongside my colleagues in the House and the new administration to make sure the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and other agencies have the resources they need to get this crisis under control. Specifically, we must immediately restart construction of the southern border wall. When I visited the southern border last year just south of Sierra Vista, Arizona, I saw firsthand the condition of the current fence with huge openings, and materials for the new border wall laying on the ground because the Biden administration refused to continue construction. We must finish the wall and signal to those individuals who are attempting to cross our border that it should be done legally through an assigned point of entry. Once the crisis is under control, then we can continue our work on making meaningful reforms to our very intricate immigration system. We can streamline the asylum process, ensuring genuine asylum seekers are protected while maintaining a secure border. Our system should not be exploited by those seeking to bypass our immigration laws, which is why we must emphasize a fair, efficient, and safe process that upholds our values while prioritizing the rule of law. While stopping illegal crossings is the first step in addressing our fractured immigration system, I will work to ensure our agriculture industry has the workforce needed to remain in operation. My legislation, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, enacts reforms to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program by creating a first-of-its-kind, merit-based visa program specifically designed for our nation’s agricultural sector. A controlled border goes hand-in-hand with workable visa programs and uncouples immigration from dangerous cartels, ultimately decreasing incentives for illegal migration. There is no doubt we have our work cut out for us, but House and Senate Republicans, alongside the incoming administration, are hitting the ground running to deliver common-sense solutions. I am optimistic about the future, and hopeful that my friends and colleagues across the aisle will continue to join in the effort to solve this crisis. View on My Website newhouse.house.gov     Congressman Dan Newhouse | 504 Cannon House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice