Border security is national security. With more than 800 miles of U.S.-Mexico border, Texas’s 23rd district has the largest stretch of the border territory of any Congressional District. The Southwest border serves a critical role from welcoming lawful immigrants into the country, keeping bad actors outside our borders, and facilitating cross-border trade. Any decisions that impact what goes in and out of our country directly affects our communities. Because of that, border security and immigration has been a top priority for me and my district.
I believe open borders are not an option, but completely closed borders are not feasible either. It is essential that Congress is smart and intentional with where we invest our resources that adequately equips Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in securing our borders – building physical infrastructure to deploying technology and equipment along the border where it makes sense. Through my work on the House Appropriations Committee, I have consistently secured funding for CBP operations and support, border security technology to detect illicit goods such as fentanyl, and necessary investments to recruit and retain a federal workforce that work to keep our borders secure. Anyone who wants to come to America and live the American dream should have a chance to do so - but they must do it legally. It’s important we have a safe, fair, legal immigration process where we can sustain operational control and enforce the rule of law in a timely manner that does not adversely impact our communities or hinder the rights of non-U.S. citizens from seeking refuge, or to pursue legal avenues for economic opportunity.
Some of my recent efforts to uphold my commitment to a safe and secure border include:
Securing our border:
- Consistently included funding for Operation Stonegarden
- Consistently included funding for CBP operations
- Introduced the Security First Act
- Co-sponsored the LPOE Modernization Trust Fund Act
- Co-sponsored the SAFE Border Act
Combatting fentanyl:
- Introduced the Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act of 2023
- Consistently included funding for disrupting and dismantling Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) operations
- Consistently included funding for Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology along the border to improve detection of illicit narcotics including fentanyl
- Co-sponsored the TCO Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act
- Co-sponsored the Stop Our Scourge Act
- Co-sponsored the SAFE Act
- Co-sponsored the END FENTANYL Act
Personnel:
- Consistently included funding for U.S. Border Patrol and CBP hiring initiatives
- Consistently included funding for CBP personnel suicide prevention, including mental health clinicians and other workforce care initiatives
- Introduced the Border Patrol Pay Parity Act
- Previously introduced the TAPS Act
Immigration:
- Consistently included funding for Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations
- Consistently included funding for ICE Transportation and Removal Operations
- Consistently included funding for processing coordinators
- Introduced the HIRE Act
- Supported securing language in the Homeland Appropriations bill that provides exemptions for H-2B workers by counting them as returning workers without being counted toward the numerical limitation during any of the 3 preceding years if they have already been counted
- Supported securing language in the Homeland Appropriations bill that allows nonimmigrants be admitted under the H-2A program to perform agricultural labor/services without regard to whether such labor/service is temporary or seasonal in nature
For more information concerning work and views related to immigration & border security, please contact my office.