U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on July 27 sponsored legislation calling for a broad federal strategy that dictates how the nation would take control at its southern border.
“The Biden administration has proven time and time again that they have no strategy for gaining control of our southern border, and it’s time they start showing some leadership and accountability,” Sen. Tillis said. “I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues because the American people deserve to see this administration finally taking control of this chaos.”
The Comprehensive Southern Border Strategy Act, S. 4642, which is cosponsored by four other Republicans, would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to complete the strategy within 12 months of the bill’s enactment, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Tillis’ staff.
The strategy would address how to maintain operational control and situational awareness across the entirety of the southern border, as well as a strategy for combating human smuggling and drug trafficking, and associated costs, the summary says.
“The situation at our border is undeniably a crisis as the cartels continue their human trafficking and their smuggling of illicit drugs like fentanyl into our country,” said Sen. Tillis. “This legislation will ensure that DHS enacts a plan, using every resource available.”
S. 4642 is companion legislation to the same-named H.R. 7260, introduced on March 29 by U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA). The U.S. House of Representatives’ version has 25 GOP cosponsors.
“The crisis on our southern border continues to hurt the most vulnerable and put the safety of Americans at risk as we witness record-high illegal crossings and deadly drugs like fentanyl flowing freely into our streets, schools and communities,” Rep. Kim said. “As long as this border crisis persists, our communities suffer.”
Rep. Kim thanked the senators “for introducing this bill in the Senate so we can finally create a comprehensive strategy to gain operational control of our border at every mile and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively.”