Former Border Patrol agent, Chris Clem, has expressed concern over the rising number of “got-aways” at the southern border, highlighting the urgency to address the ongoing migrant crisis. In a recent brief obtained by Digital, the Heritage Foundation, a top conservative group, has issued a warning to Republicans, urging them not to miss the opportunity to push for greater border security and pass a GOP overhaul to solve the crisis. However, the group also emphasizes the need for caution when considering funding requests without policy changes tied to assistance to Israel.
The Heritage Foundation argues that Republicans missed a chance to address the border crisis by agreeing to a spending agreement last month that did not include the Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2) – a House Republican signature border and asylum reform. The group believes that the incoming speaker should not squander another opportunity to end the Biden border crisis. They suggest that funding requests should be tied to policy changes, and Republicans should not shy away from using aggressive immigration policy riders to strengthen existing spending bills.
H.R. 2, if passed, would restart border wall construction, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, limit parole for releasing migrants into the interior, re-establish the Migrant Protection Protocols, tighten the “credible fear” standard, and expand penalties for visa overstays, among other reforms. The Heritage Foundation emphasizes the need for intensified efforts to secure the border and enforce immigration laws, especially in light of the recent Hamas terror attack on Israel that has refocused concerns about the border.
While the White House has requested an additional $14 billion in emergency supplemental funding, along with funding for Israel and Ukraine, the Heritage Foundation advises against providing funding without policy changes tied to other countries’ assistance. They warn that simply writing a check as part of an unrelated supplemental spending bill would only exacerbate the crisis. The group believes that H.R. 2 must become law to truly secure the homeland.
In addition to their border security proposals, the Heritage Foundation supports efforts in the House to impeach and remove Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his handling of the border crisis. They stress that the border crisis cannot be solved solely with more taxpayer dollars and caution against attaching “border security” money to Israel funding without policy changes.
The brief from the Heritage Foundation comes shortly after the Biden administration announced record-breaking border numbers for September, making it the month with the highest number of encounters and marking the most yearly encounters on record. These alarming statistics further highlight the urgency to address the border crisis.
As the speaker’s race continues in the House, Republicans are being urged to seize the opportunity to address the border crisis and ensure the enforcement of immigration laws. The Heritage Foundation’s brief serves as a call to prioritize border security and implement necessary reforms to effectively tackle the ongoing migrant crisis.
Adam Shaw, a politics reporter for Digital, specializes in covering immigration and border security. For more updates on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and additional political content, subscribe to Digital’s newsletter.
