Panhandle Times

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) has introduced House Resolution (H.Res.) 957, condemning President Biden's open border policies. In a statement, Congressman Moran expressed his concerns about the negative consequences of these policies on national public safety, the rule of law, and the sovereignty of the United States.

Moran specifically criticized the removal of effective Trump-era policies, such as "Remain in Mexico," and their replacement with new "Catch and Release" policies that allow migrants to freely roam within the United States once they arrive. He also highlighted the broadening of the pathway to grant asylum to almost anyone who applies and the redirection of Border Patrol efforts away from law enforcement towards processing immigration paperwork.

"These are but a few examples of the open border policies of the Biden Administration that are trampling on our Constitution and undermining the value of an orderly immigration process," said Congressman Moran. He emphasized the need for a strong and vibrant immigration system that preserves sovereignty, provides an orderly process for legal immigrants, holds trespassers accountable, upholds the rule of law, and protects citizens from the dangers associated with open borders.

Congressman Moran has a track record of prioritizing border security. He was one of only eight original co-sponsors, and the only freshman original co-sponsor, of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023. His first bill filed in Congress, H.R. 672, focused on border security as well. Now, he has introduced this resolution to condemn President Biden's failure and refusal to secure the border through executive policies.

The situation at the southern border has worsened under Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. More than 8 million illegal aliens have been encountered at the border, with at least another 1.7 million "gotaways" evading Border Patrol. Fiscal year 2023 alone saw a nearly fivefold increase in encounters, with over 3.2 million illegal aliens encountered, compared to the last full year of the Trump Administration.

The Biden Administration's open border policies have also led to concerning encounters with individuals on the FBI's terrorist watchlist. Since the start of fiscal year 2021, 317 suspects on the watchlist have been encountered attempting to cross the border illegally, compared to just 14 such encounters in the previous four fiscal years. Additionally, over 70,000 Special Interest Aliens potentially posing a threat to national security were encountered between October 2021 and October 2023.

The backlog of immigration cases has also reached alarming levels. There are currently 6.2 million illegal aliens on the non-detained docket, including over 400,000 known criminal aliens. The asylum backlog surpassed 3 million cases in November, with a million-case increase in just one year, resulting in prolonged waiting times for migrants seeking legal resolution.

The Biden Administration's implementation of 94 pro-open border executive actions within its first 100 days, including halting the construction of the border wall, has further exacerbated the situation. Immigration officers' ability to arrest, detain, and remove aliens who violate U.S. law has been restricted, and Asylum Cooperative Agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras have been terminated. The Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the Remain in Mexico program, were terminated as well, only to be restarted in a manner that weakened their intended deterrent effect.

In response to these policies, Congressman Moran has introduced House Resolution 957, which condemns the Biden Administration's open border policies and calls for accountability from President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas. The resolution aims to address the concerns raised by the Congressman and advocate for a secure border that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the American people.

The full text of H.Res. 957 can be found [HERE](link).

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