Washington, D.C. – March 23, 2021 U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced H.R.2180—the "Redirecting Resources to the Border Act,” which would relocate the extraneous fencing around the U.S. Capitol, installed by Speaker Pelosi, to the southern border, and direct the Secretary of Defense to reassign members of the National Guard, deployed to the U.S. Capitol, to the southern border to address the recent surge in illegal immigration.

In just two short months, the Biden administration has undone the significant progress President Trump made in restoring control over our southern border.  There has been a significant and dangerous surge which has largely been driven by large numbers of unaccompanied minors crossing the border illegally.  By prioritizing border wall construction and eliminating immigration enforcement loopholes, including “catch-and-release” and asylum system abuses, President Trump had driven illegal immigration to lows not seen in many years.  By reversing these policies, President Biden sent a signal to the world that America’s borders are open.  We are seeing the predictably tragic results. 

 Apprehension totals have risen to levels higher than we have seen in the last two decades, and countless children are being exploited by traffickers and cartels.  Thousands of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border have had previous criminal convictions, and only two weeks ago, individuals on a terrorist watch list were apprehended while crossing the border.  And all of this is happening in the midst of a global pandemic.  Allowing thousands to enter our country, without adequate COVID testing or a quarantine process, creates an imminent health risk that includes potential introduction of dangerous COVID-19 variants into the U.S.

 Despite the Trump successes and the clear deterrent effects of the border wall and renewed immigration enforcement, Speaker Pelosi has declared a border wall “immoral,” and Senate Majority Leader Schumer deemed the southern barricade “unnecessary.”  Last summer, after numerous volatile protests, when the White House installed barricades around Lafayette Park, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer sent a letter to President Trump urging him to “tear down these walls.”  Yet, in response to the January 6 attack of the U.S. Capitol, a “7-foot non-scalable fence” was erected around the People’s House in reaction to a threat that the House Sergeant at Arms has now admitted is non-existent. 

 It is now clear that Democrat Congressional Leadership seems to only value walls and security when it fits their political agenda and are more concerned with protecting themselves than protecting the American people.  By insisting on the presence of walls and razor wire in response to a non-credible threat, while rejecting their use against a very real threat on our southern border, the Speaker and Majority Leader have made their hypocrisy clear.

 Make no mistake, this crisis at the border is a national security issue.  It is evident that we must fortify our southern border NOW.  With the removal of much of the fencing around the Capitol, it is imperative that we redirect these materials and available personnel to address this emergency before it gets any more out-of-hand. 

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