Newhouse statement on visit to southern border

SUNNYSIDE – Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after touring the Southern U.S. border near McAllen, Texas and briefings by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30:
 

“My tour of the Southern border to learn more about how federal agencies enforce our nation’s immigration laws and the challenges they face every day was eye-opening,” said Rep. Newhouse. “I heard compelling stories about how hard federal officers work to enforce the law for the protection of the American people as well as the well-being of immigrants. Not only do these enforcement professionals need more technology, infrastructure, and personnel, but they need Congress to update our broken immigration system, which currently encourages illegal immigration. A whole-of-government approach is required to address every aspect of the crisis on our Southern border: from working with countries from which migrants leave to increasing border security to humane enforcement of the laws. After my tour, I am as determined as ever that border security and immigration reform must go hand-in-hand, which requires both sides of the debate to come to a legislative compromise.”