In response to the ongoing, record-breaking crisis at the nation’s southern border, Rep. August Pfluger joined Rep. John Katko (R-NY), lead Republican of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee, House Border Caucus members, and House Republican leadership to propose a multi-faceted solution to secure our borders and prioritize the safety of Americans. The Border Security for America Act of 2021 would require that the federal government secure our nation’s international borders through the renewal of border wall construction contracts, investments in advanced technologies, and bolstering support for federal law enforcement officers and specialists.

As a result of President Biden’s misguided and destructive border security policies, illegal crossings along the southern border have reached over 1.1 million this year – up 362% from the same time frame last year. Under President Biden, cartels have built a stronghold along the southern border, using children as pawns to distract Border Patrol Agents as billions of dollars worth of illicit drugs are smuggled across the border and into American communities. Furthermore, CBP seized enough fentanyl so far this year to kill 1.9 billion people, over five times the U.S. population. Bad actors and criminals are working the system at the southwest border as we’ve seen multiple known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) do this year. It’s more than clear that President Biden and his administration cannot secure our sovereign borders and ensure the safety of all Americans.
 
“President Biden and Vice President Harris’s disastrous decision to rescind President Trump’s strong-border policies on day one of their Administration has led to record-numbers of illegal crossings, drug trafficking, and criminal activity,” said Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11). “Republicans have come to the table to propose solutions that will help to re-establish operational control of the border by resuming construction on the border wall and providing critical resources to officers so they can enforce our laws. I hope my Democrat colleagues will realize the dire threat that weak borders pose to all American communities, and work with Republicans to secure our southern border and protect American citizens once and for all.”

“Under President Biden’s weak leadership this border crisis knows no limits as every American community bears the brunt of weak border security,” said Ranking Member Katko, Committee on Homeland Security. “When the southwest border is lawless, it’s the fabric of all our communities that suffers. And that is unacceptable. Like many of my colleagues who’ve supported this legislation, we’ve been down to the southern border several times to see this crisis firsthand and hear directly from those on the frontlines. From finishing the border wall system to modernizing technology and bolstering border staffing, this legislation tackles key shortcomings and weaknesses we’ve seen for ourselves that are fueling the border crisis. I am proud to stand with so many of my Republican colleagues to put forth a strong, commonsense alternative to President Biden’s failing and destructive border security policies.”

The Border Security for America Act of 2021 would:

• Require the Secretary of Homeland Security to resume construction on the border wall system immediately.
• Direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to deploy practical and effective technology to support CBP and Border Patrol operations.
• Require the CBP Commissioner to hire and train additional CBP officers and agents to maintain an active-duty presence at all U.S. ports of entry.
• Require increasing the number of officers for tunnel detection and remediation, agricultural specialists, K-9 units, and supporting officers.

Original co-sponsors include Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Committee on Homeland Security Republican leader John Katko (R-NY), Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN), Republican Conference Vice-Chair Mike Johnson (R-LA), Committee on Foreign Affairs Republican leader Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Committee on Appropriations Republican leader Kay Granger (R-TX), Committee on Armed Services Republican leader Mike Rogers (R-AL), Committee on Oversight and Reform Republican leader James Comer (R-KY), Committee on Energy & Commerce Republican leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Committee on Ethics Republican leader Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Republican leader Sam Graves (R-MO), Reps. Michael Guest (R-MS), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Peter Meijer (R-MI), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Jake Laturner (R-KS), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Brian Babin (R-TX), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Troy Nehls (R-TX), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), John Rutherford (R-FL), and Tony Gonzales (R-TX).
 
More details on the legislation here. 
 
Read the bill text here.
 
Read the bill section by section here.