Latest news with #SecuretheBorderAct
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Republicans Passed the One Big Beautiful Bill to Secure Our Borders—Here's What We Must Do Next
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was the product of many months of hard work by Congress and the unwavering leadership of President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson. The legislation stands as a landmark achievement, and it represents a sea change for border security and immigration enforcement. That change is long overdue, particularly as we work to undo the devastation of the Biden-Harris border crisis. President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speak to members of the media at the U.S. Capitol on May 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speak to members of the media at the U.S. Capitol on May 20, 2025, in Washington, the turnaround are historic investments in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Among other achievements, Republicans approved more than $46 billion to finish construction of the strategic border barrier system, $45 billion to expand ICE's ability to detain illegal aliens, and approximately $35 billion to recruit, hire, and retain thousands more CBP and ICE officers, agents, and support personnel. But the work to ensure long-lasting border security and interior enforcement is far from over. While Republicans maintain majorities in Washington, we must advance the ball even further. There are three key areas in which we still have a long way to go—but the path is clear. First, we must act quickly to codify President Trump's executive orders. As we learned when President Joe Biden took office and ended essentially every effective border security and enforcement policy of the first Trump administration, executive actions can be undone—sometimes with devastating consequences. If we want the policy wins of the second Trump administration to be guaranteed for future generations, we must turn those executive orders into law. The reconciliation process allowed us to secure many key victories, but the rules of that process also prevented us from enacting policy changes without a clear fiscal impact. That means there are numerous reforms still on the table demanding our attention and action. For starters, to prevent future abuse of our immigration laws and protect our families and communities from the scourge of the fentanyl crisis, we must advance and expand upon the policies put forward in H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act, a historic border security and immigration reform bill that passed the House last Congress but was ignored by the Democrat-led Senate. Some of those reforms include explicitly prohibiting mass parole and nationality-based parole programs, closing asylum and catch-and-release loopholes, expanding expedited removal, cracking down on visa overstays, and expanding grounds for inadmissibility. The American people support such strong measures. They resoundingly endorsed these policies in the 2024 election after President Trump ran on a platform of mass deportations. Poll after poll shows continued support for that platform, despite increasingly outrageous Democrat rhetoric. Second, Republicans need to ramp up our investigative and accountability efforts, starting with looking deeply into the Biden-era officials who crafted, implemented, and defended the unlawful open-borders policies that caused untold harm to our nation. The burgeoning "auto-pen" scandal of the Biden administration—which casts into doubt whether President Biden was of sound mind and personally responsible for many of the policy decisions of his administration, even from its earliest days—sparks some troubling questions. Chief among these is how many of the radical policy decisions on border security and immigration enforcement were driven not by the president, but by others in the White House who saw the opportunity to systemically undermine longstanding U.S. immigration law in pursuit of open-borders, anti-enforcement policies? We have already identified a number of individuals involved in the Biden transition team and the administration that played a role in this crisis, and we must aggressively expand our investigation into them and pursue accountability where we can. Third and finally, we need to hold accountable the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that helped facilitate the Biden-Harris administration's border crisis. The House Committee on Homeland Security has devoted substantial time and effort into uncovering how these NGOs served as a conduit for illegal immigration under the previous administration, often to their own substantial financial benefit. A few weeks ago, we sent a letter to more than 200 NGOs suspected of providing services and benefits to illegal aliens, seeking information about how these groups have used federal taxpayer dollars. We need to expand these probes, and as chairman of the Committee's Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, I fully intend to do so. No organization should be allowed to subvert or undermine U.S. laws, and they most certainly should not be doing so with taxpayer money. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and we need to not only prevent further abuse via legislative solutions but also demonstrate that those who do will answer for their actions. This is a bold agenda for the House Republican conference and the House Committee on Homeland Security. But the American people have spoken unequivocally. Just like President Trump, they want the border secured, illegal aliens removed, and their communities made safe. They also want accountability for the harm caused to our country and a firm commitment to advancing President Trump's proven border security agenda. We must show that we are up to the task. Congressman Michael Guest is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement and is currently serving his fourth term as the U.S. representative for Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congressman Mark Green retiring from U.S. House of Representatives
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee's 7th District Congressman, Mark Green, will retire from the U.S. House of Representatives, the federal lawmaker announced Monday. In a statement, Rep. Green announced he was retiring from Congressional service due to taking a private sector position that was 'too exciting to pass up.' Per his statement, Green has informed Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) he will resign as soon as the House votes on the reconciliation package. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → He called his time in Congress 'the honor of a lifetime,' touting 'historic tax cuts,' sweeping border security legislation and pro-life legislation as some of his proudest accomplishments in Washington. Green initially planned to exit public life at the end of his previous term, announcing last February he wouldn't seek a fourth term in office; however, he quickly backtracked just four weeks later. He easily defeated a challenge from former Nashville mayor Megan Barry in the Nov. 5, 2024, general election. Green's full statement reads as follows: It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement from Congress. Recently, I was offered an opportunity in the private sector that was took exciting to pass up. As a result, today I notified the Speaker of the House of Representatives that I will resign from Congress as soon as the House votes once again on the reconciliation package. It was the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of Tennessee in congress. They asked me to deliver on the conservative values and principles we all hold dear, and I did my level best to do so. Along the way, we passed historic tax cuts, worked with President Trump to secure the border, and defended innocent life. I am extremely proud of my work as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and want to thank my staff, both in my seventh district office, as well as the professional staff on that committee. I have now served the public for nearly four decades. The Army took me to Iraq and Afghanistan. The people sent me to the Tennessee legislature and the halls of Congress. Along the way, I have often remarked on the strength of the men and women I have served with. I know that the integrity, decency, and faith of the American people are what powered us for the first 250 years, and will power us for another 250 and beyond. I can proudly look back at my time in Congress and the success that we have accomplished on behalf of Tennesseans and the American people. I am grateful to Speaker Johnson and House Leadership for placing their trust in me to chair the Committee on Homeland Security, lead the effort to impeach former Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and to pass H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, the strongest border security legislation in history to ever pass the House. However, my time in Congress has come to an end. Though I planned to retire at the end of the previous Congress, I stayed to ensure that President Trump's border security measures and priorities make it through Congress. By overseeing the border security portion of the reconciliation package, I have done that. After that, I will retire, and there will be a special election to replace me. I have no doubt that my colleagues in this Congress will continue to strengthen the cause of freedom. May God bless them, and the United States of America. Rep. Mark Green (TN-07) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Stansbury and Vasquez speak at the New Mexico Legislature
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Two of New Mexico's Congressional delegates addressed the state legislature on Thursday highlighting their accomplishments and vision for the future. Representatives Gabe Vasquez and Melanie Stansbury promoted what they've done to bolster infrastructure, public safety, education, and healthcare. Story continues below National: American Airlines plane, military helicopter collide near DCA, crash into river Crime: 14-year-old killed in robbery attempt, seven teens charged in connection Don't Miss: Lea County using technology to help find lost loved ones who wander away They also stressed their work is far from over. 'I believe in the heart of my heart that we will continue to chart a course forward with a bold vision for our people and to always keep our communities at the center of our work,' said Rep. Stansbury. 'Reflecting on my first term serving you in Congress, I'm proud to say that my service to my district and this state has had one singular focus – to improve the lives of New Mexicans,' said Rep. Vasquez. The Republican Party of New Mexico sent this statement in response: New Mexicans are tired of empty promises, they demand real action. When our representatives discuss crucial issues like the welfare of our oil and gas workers, support for our police, and the border and fentanyl crisis, their words must lead to tangible solutions. Sadly, the voting records of Rep. Stansbury and Rep. Vasquez expose a major discrepancy between their promises and their actions with their votes against bills like the Secure the Border Act and the Laken Riley Act. Furthermore, Vasquez voiced support for Paid Family Leave which could drain even more money from hardworking New Mexicans' paychecks while placing an undue burden on the small businesses that need our support the most. We urge the legislature to put New Mexicans first and work together to tackle the key issues: protecting small businesses, strengthening our economy, supporting law enforcement, backing our oil and gas industry, improving education, securing our borders, and holding criminals accountable. Republican Party of New Mexico Chairwoman Amy Barela Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
