Congressman Keller speaks with a CBP agent on Monday during a visit to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) today introduced legislation to commend the agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for their service and sacrifice amidst the growing crisis at the southern border.
While on a trip to the southern border in Texas and New Mexico with members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform this week, Keller witnessed the challenges CPB agents face in keeping up with record-breaking numbers of illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border. According to one agent, officers are currently stretched dangerously thin, tasked with serving as social workers and detention guards in addition to patrolling 260 miles of border in the El Paso sector alone.
According to DHS, in March of 2021:
- CBP encountered over 172,000 illegal immigrants at the southwest border, the highest monthly total in 15 years and an increase of 400% compared to March 2020.
- CBP encountered nearly 19,000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs), an increase of 486% compared to March 2020.
- CBP encountered more than 53,000 family units at the southwest border, an increase of 1056% compared to March 2020.
On the resolution, Congressman Keller made the following statement:
“During our trip to the southern border, I saw first-hand how hard our Customs and Border Patrol agents must work as a result of the detrimental policies and rhetoric of the Biden administration. These hardworking men and women operate in an incredibly dangerous environment to defend American sovereignty, and their service is well-deserving of formal recognition from Congress.”
Text of the resolution is below.
Commending the men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their service and sacrifice amidst a growing crisis at the southern border.
Whereas there is a growing humanitarian and national security crisis at the southern border;
Whereas the United States is experiencing the highest number of illegal crossings in 15 years, 171,000 of which occurred in March 2021 alone;
Whereas border facilities are at 1,700-percent capacity;
Whereas two Yemeni terrorists on the Federal no-fly list were recently apprehended while trying to breach the southern border; and
Whereas the Biden Administration and Vice President Harris have refused to acknowledge this crisis and take the necessary steps to secure the border, putting enormous strain on U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the men and women of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection—
(1) are deserving of recognition for their tireless work to defend American sovereignty, uphold law and order, and mitigate the humanitarian and national security threat unfolding at the southern border;
(2) deserve gratitude for their service, integrity, and steadfast commitment to fulfill the duties in which they are entrusted; and
(3) should be commended for their sacrifice while being away from their families and putting their lives at risk to protect our communities.
