Illegal Honduran migrants walk along a road in Guatemala on Jan. 16. They are preparing to travel to the United States.
More than two dozen federal House Republican lawmakers urged President Biden Friday (March 5) to restore a national emergency at the southern border as the United States faces a dramatically escalating border crisis.
In a letter to Biden, led by Republican U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden, the lawmakers said the Biden Administration‘s “refusal to enforce immigration laws has encouraged countless (illegal) immigrants to make the dangerous journey across our border,” according to Fox News.
The letter was first reported by the website The Daily Caller.
“We urge you to recognize that an (illegal) immigration crisis is occurring and restore the national emergency at our southern border.” The lawmakers wrote in the letter.
The letter was also signed by Jim Banks, Brian Babin, Majorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Jody Hice and Michael Cloud. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) and other Republican House members.
“There is no question that we are at a Time of border crisis. President Biden got this (border crisis) started by rolling back numerous Trump-era immigration policies, and that’s why we urge him to immediately restore the national emergency at our border.” Gooden told Fox News.
The Biden administration has taken some notable actions to undo the Trump-era crackdown on illegal immigration, including revoking the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP) that kept illegal immigrants in Mexico. Biden also limited enforcement and deportation priorities for illegal immigrants, while halting construction of the border wall.
In addition, the Biden administration has reinstated catch-and-release, the practice of releasing captured illegal immigrants into the United States, which has led to the release of some illegal immigrants who have been tested for the Chinese Communist virus (coronavirus).
Axios reports that there has been a spike in the number of illegal child immigrants being turned over to the U.S. Department of health and Human Services. Republican lawmakers point to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) figures showing an average of 3,000 illegal immigrant arrests per day in January 2021, and an estimated 117,000 unaccompanied illegal immigrant children will cross the border this year.
So far, the Biden administration has denied that there is a border crisis.
Republicans have been sounding the alarm about the crisis for weeks and have called on the Biden administration to roll back its security policies and also its plan to provide a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.
In a letter to Biden, the lawmakers said your administration can stop the border tragedy by restoring the border emergency and the Migrant Protection Protocol.
“These two steps would send a clear message to millions of potential (illegal) immigrants that the United States will not tolerate illegal entry into our country.” The lawmakers said.
Meanwhile, other Republicans are calling for hearings on the border crisis. Rep. James Comer (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House Oversight and Reform Committee, criticized the Biden administration for speeding up its handling of illegal immigration.
“President Biden’s actions are encouraging more illegal immigration and enticing more Parents to bring their children to the United States knowing they will soon be released inside our country,” Comer said. “President Biden should follow President Trump’s lead to curb the border crisis instead of resorting to a ‘catch and release’ policy.”
Unaccompanied illegal alien children pose the most pressing challenge because, unlike illegal families and adults, the U.S. government is responsible for caring for them until they are accepted by a vetted adult sponsor. The number of illegal children is expected to reach 9,000 in February, causing government child shelters to fill up.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) sent a letter to Biden on Friday requesting a meeting with him to discuss the increase in unaccompanied illegal minors.
“We must acknowledge the border crisis, develop a plan, and strongly oppose, in clear terms, individuals from Mexico and Central America embarking on the dangerous journey to our southern border.” McCarthy wrote.
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