Golden: Biden’s border security action ‘an overdue step’ but job far from over

WASHINGTON — Reps. Jared Golden (ME-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Mary Peltola (AK-AL) and Don Davis (NC-01) released the following statement today regarding President Biden’s new executive order on border security: 

“This order is an overdue step, but our Southern border is still not secure,” the members said. “We’ve long demanded President Biden change course and empower the Border Patrol, and he’s finally acting and listening to the law enforcement agents in the field, like we’ve been telling him to do.

“But make no mistake: This job is far from over for the President and Congress. To that end, in addition to his action today, President Biden needs to use the authority given to the executive by Congress to immediately reimplement 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(C), and we are again calling on leaders in both the House and Senate to pass legislation to give the Border Patrol back the expulsion authority that expired last year. 

“Border security must be the top national security priority for President Biden. The President needs to do all he can to restore operational control of our Southern border and stop drug cartels from trafficking fentanyl into communities across America.” 

Background:

Reps. Golden, Gluesenkamp Perez, Peltola and Davis were four of only five Democrats to vote in March for H.R. 3602, to restore operational control at the Southern Border. Since the vote, the members have repeatedlycalled on the president to utilize his full executive authority to secure the border. In March, they voted to pass funding for the largest Border Patrol workforce in the nation’s history. 

Golden, Gluesenkamp Perez and Peltola are co-chairs of the Blue Dog Coalition, a House Caucus dedicated to pursuing fiscally responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense for our country, and transcending party lines to get things done for the American people.

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