Congressman David G. Valadao Joins Colleagues at the Southern Border to View Crisis Firsthand
EL PASO, TX. -- On Friday, May 21, 2021, Congressman David G. Valadao joined five members of the Republican Main Street Partnership to see the impact of the growing crisis at the United States-Mexico border.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX-23) and Republican Main Street Partnership hosted Reps. David Valadao (CA-21), Don Bacon (NE-02), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), and Pete Stauber (MN-08) for a roundtable discussion at a pecan farm with local ranchers and farmers; a visit to an unaccompanied-minor facility; tours of the El Paso Central Processing Center and the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry; and a briefing with Customs and Border Patrol agents.
“Under President Biden, illegal border crossings have skyrocketed. In April alone, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol encountered over 170,000 individuals at the southwest border - the most we’ve seen in a single month in over 20 years. Heroin and fentanyl smuggling has increased dramatically, and the rate of unaccompanied minors making the dangerous trek across our border is heartbreaking. Not only is this a humanitarian crisis, this is a national security disaster,” said Congressman Valadao. “By refusing to enforce immigration laws, President Biden is sending a dangerous message that our border is open for business to cartels and encourages people to put themselves in harm’s way to cross our border.”
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