Biden must secure southern border, say Armstrong, Feenstra, 60+ Republicans

U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) joined 62 of their Republican colleagues in urging President Joe Biden to secure the nation’s southern border, restart wall construction, and hasten efforts to keep fentanyl out of America.

“Our border is wide open because President Biden refuses to enforce our nation’s laws and protect our communities,” Rep. Feenstra said in a Feb. 2 statement. “President Biden must overturn his reckless executive orders that have allowed drug traffickers, terrorists, foreign nationals with ties to China, and millions of illegal immigrants to pour over our border with no vetting whatsoever.”

“President Biden consistently fails to secure the southern border,” added Rep. Armstrong in a separate statement. “He removed policies that work like Remain in Mexico and has signaled to the world that our border is open. Enough. President Biden should enforce our laws and secure the border.”

In their Feb. 2 letter sent to Biden, the lawmakers wrote that the U.S. southern border is being overrun by illegal immigrants and the responsibility for the crisis lies with the president.

“Under your direction, your administration has intentionally and systematically undermined U.S. border security by perpetually refusing to enforce countless laws that have worked to secure our southern border and prevent illegal immigration,” they wrote.

The president’s open border rhetoric and refusal to enforce immigration law have exacerbated the border crisis, ceded operational control of the southern border to cartels and illegal immigrants, and invited a “full-scale invasion,” according to the letter, which is led by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA).

House Republicans, they added, narrowly passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023, H.R. 2, to help stop the flow of illegal immigration. Following a 219-213 vote in May 2023, the bill advanced to the U.S. Senate where it remains.

“Your actions alone created this catastrophe, and you have the power to fix it,” wrote Rep. Armstrong, Rep. Feenstra, and their colleagues. “You can choose to direct your administration to vigorously enforce the laws on the books today, thereby stemming the tide of illegal immigration and protecting our communities. 

“Or you can choose to perpetuate this national security and humanitarian crisis through your unequivocal failure of leadership for the American people,” they wrote.