U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Pete Stauber (R-MN) joined several of their GOP colleagues to request an immediate report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on putting new border procedures into operation.
Spurred by President Joe Biden’s action to extend the closure of America’s land borders until Oct. 21 at the earliest, the members called on DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide the report to Congress as soon as possible.
“As Representatives for northern border states, we are especially concerned about the situation along the United States-Canada border,” the lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 27 letter sent to the DHS secretary. “Currently, Customs and Border Protection does not appear to have a plan in place to execute a safe reopening without causing tremendous delays at the land ports of entry (LPOE).”
Such a situation poses “a major problem” for the commercial trade sector, which needs to know whether DHS will assign appropriate resources to maintain security so that all LPOE may operate successfully, they wrote.
“The closure of our northern border impacts Americans and Canadians alike, and the impact is especially felt by Minnesotans like those who live in the Northwest Angle,” Rep. Emmer said. “Between the halt to trade, the disruption to the tourism industry, and the separation of our citizens, this closure has been devastating.”
Rep. Stauber said in a statement that he “was greatly disappointed” when President Biden again extended the restrictions on land travel from Canada.
“The border communities we represent are unfairly suffering as the administration continues to prevent non-essential land travel all while allowing air travel,” said Rep. Stauber. “Hopefully, by requesting an operationalizing report on border procedures from the Department of Homeland Security, the administration will recognize the error of their ways and end these restrictions in October.”
U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) was among the four other lawmakers who signed the letter.