U.S. Reps. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) will embark on a daylong tour of Maine’s northern border and meet with local officials on Thursday during a roundtable discussion in Houlton, Maine.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mark Morgan will join Poliquin and McCaul on the tour.
“Understanding the unique threats to and security gaps along the Northern Border is critical to addressing national security challenges,” McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said. “Securing the Northern Border, like all our borders, must remain a top priority. I look forward to examining first-hand the security measures being implemented at our northernmost perimeter.”
Maine shares a 611-mile border with Canada, Poliquin noted, and it is critical that every inch of that border is protected from drug traffickers and those who seek to threaten the homeland.
“At the same time, it’s important that we balance the need for strong security with the needs of our communities, families and local businesses in northern, western and downeast Maine that go across the border every day for work, for pleasure and to visit loved ones,” Poliquin, a member of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, said. “I am very excited for this opportunity to host two of our Nation’s top officials on border security — House Homeland Security Committee Chairman McCaul and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Morgan — for this uniquely valuable tour of Maine’s Northern Border and public town hall discussion to hear directly from local law enforcement and community members who are impacted by the border every day.”
Poliquin and McCaul will host a press conference at Bangor International Airport before embarking on the tour.