Under the leadership of President Trump and his administration, there was no question as to whether there was operational control at the southern border – we knew that operational control was both established and maintained. Today, it’s a different reality, and one that’s extremely hard to stomach for every American. Contrary to the narratives and language we see displayed within the media that try to describe the current state of the southern border, I simply do not believe that we should be labeling it as a ‘crisis’ – it’s far worse. What we’re seeing play out is a catastrophe, and my update for you today confirms this even further.

In the month of August, 232,972 illegal aliens were encountered at our nation’s southern border. This is the highest total for August in the Department of Homeland Security’s history. What’s more, this August was the 30th straight month where monthly illegal immigrant encounters have been higher than even the highest month seen under President Trump. For fiscal year 2023, more than 2.3 million encounters with illegal aliens have been recorded – which surpasses last year’s record. In total, more than six million illegal crossings have taken place at the southern border since President Biden took office.

The Biden administration’s policies that have driven us to this point should also be examined so that you can gather an even more vivid picture. In President Biden’s first 100 days in office, he issued 94 executive actions related to immigration, which included halting construction of the border wall. On May 10^th of this year, his administration announced that it would allow for the release of some illegal aliens into the United States without implementing viable ways to track them. To add, the Department of Homeland Security, has now admitted that 40 percent of catch-and-release illegal aliens have disappeared completely off the map.

My stance on securing the southern border remains crystal clear – border security is national security. That’s why I worked alongside my colleagues to pass the Secure the Border Act of 2023 earlier this year. This legislation is the strongest border security bill in our nation’s history. As I always do, I will continue to stand up and fight against the very policies that have put our nation, and its citizens, in this entirely unacceptable position.

A Bipartisan Victory

On Tuesday, the House passed H.R. 5110, the bipartisan Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act. This legislation overturns the Department of Education’s funding ban on hunting and archery programs in schools. The Department of Education is completely tone-deaf to think that cutting hunting and archery programs in schools is a good idea. These programs have been around for decades. They educate millions of students on how to become better stewards of our land and animals, and they develop responsible hunters and gun owners. It should be a wake-up call for this administration that this bill passed on a bipartisan basis. Hunting and archery programs are here to stay.

To watch my floor speech on this legislation, click here.

My Latest Op-Ed

Recently, I penned an op-ed in the Washington Examiner discussing the dangerous decline of free speech on college campuses. My op-ed also discusses the Freedom of Speech and Its Protection on College Campuses report that I highlighted to you last week. Here is a short excerpt:

“The fundamental telos of every academic institution is – or should be – the relentless pursuit of truth. The rampant censorship described by the committee report undermines that pursuit, but the report also offers possible solutions. If colleges and universities cannot safeguard diversity of thought among their students and faculty on their own, then Congress may look to where the law could assist institutions in upholding First Amendment rights.”

To read my full op-ed, click here.

Quote of The Week

“One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts.”

-C.S. Lewis

Have a blessed weekend,