The illegal immigration crisis on our southern border is only getting worse, and unfortunately this administration has continued to do everything they can to ignore the problem.

This week, the Biden Administration again completely blindsided our district. I recently learned that the Administration decided to transition the HHS site for unaccompanied illegal migrants in Midland into one for tender-aged children (5-12 years old), both male and female, and teen girls from the ages of 13-17 years old.

I have seen this facility first-hand, and it absolutely does not meet safety requirements for young children.

What was initially established as a temporary emergency holding site is again being expanded with zero communication or coordination with Midland law enforcement officers or local officials. All this despite the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, personally assuring me that miscommunications would not happen again. Our neighbors deserve to know what is going on in our own backyard.

This crisis is only going to get worse, as an estimated 25,000 illegal unaccompanied children are expected to cross our southern border in May alone, with human smugglers and cartels exploiting them in every way along the journey.

I called on Vice President Kamala Harris to immediately come to our district to see the plight of these minors firsthand. The Administration’s refusal to come and visit these areas or respond to our concerns is only making matters worse and endangering more lives.

Make no mistake, this is a crisis that must be dealt with immediately. In March, we saw a 400% increase in illegal border crossings compared to this time last year. CBP is currently encountering more than 5,500 individuals per day, and DHS is on track to encounter more than two million migrants at the border by the end of the fiscal year.

President Biden and Vice President Harris must take responsibility for their actions, acknowledge the heartbreaking illegal immigration crisis, and take immediate action to secure our border.

Standing Up for Life

Last week, I signed a discharge petition for H.R. 629, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, that mandates that any infant born alive after an abortion receives the same standard of care as any newborn baby. This legislation would also institute penalties for abortionists who allow infants to die or who intentionally kill a newborn.

Leaving a baby born-alive during an abortion to die is not a partisan issue—it is infanticide.

Speaker Pelosi refuses to bring this legislation to the House Floor, but if our petition reaches 218 signatures, we will circumvent her power and force it to the Floor.

All life is sacred, and Americans deserve to know if their legislators support protecting life after birth. I am proud to stand up for the sanctity of life and am urging all of my colleagues to immediately sign this petition and end infanticide nationwide.

Back Home in the 11th District

It was incredible to be home in Texas. I was able to hold three town halls, two roundtables, tour the Mason Courthouse, and hold an impactful medal ceremony for three Vietnam Veterans who never received the medals they earned.

It was an honor to host three town hall meetings in Andrews, Lamesa, and Stanton, as well as two roundtables—one with bank leaders in Andrews and another with cotton producers in Lamesa.

Across the board, each of the groups I met with echoed a common theme—it all comes down to control. Leftists think that Democrats in Washington, D.C. should control our lives. But here in the 11th District, we know that no one truly understands the needs of a community like the small business owners, farmers and ranchers, and all of the good, honest people that make up the heart of our communities.

I will continue working every day as your voice in Washington to protect our freedoms.

Mason County Courthouse

I paid a visit the Mason County Courthouse following the fire that engulfed the historic site. It was heartbreaking to see the utter devastation of the beautiful Mason County Courthouse—the jewel and heartbeat of this town and community. It was especially touching as my great-great grandfather helped build this courthouse in 1909.

I’m thankful that these are the “before pictures” — as it is already in the process of being rebuilt. I look forward to its full restoration, and am committed to doing everything I can to support the efforts.

Special thanks go to Judge Bearden for showing me around, and for the immense work he and the wider Mason community are doing to restore the courthouse.

Vietnam Veteran Medal Ceremony

It was an amazing honor to recognize three San Angelo Veterans--Robert Moncibais, Fred Maskil, and Manuel Ortegon to thank them for their years of service and valiant heroism, and finally present them with these honors. I pinned each veteran with medals earned during their service in the Vietnam War that were not awarded properly.

All three men served valiantly through their military service and beyond—continuing on as valuable and active members of the San Angelo community upon retiring from military service.

As Vietnam Veterans, these men were unfortunately not met with the praise and respect they deserved upon returning home, and today’s ceremony was a small step in righting that wrong. The medals—earned for dedication, bravery, and hard work—are physical tokens of our Nation’s appreciation, and recognition that their service will never be forgotten.

Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates.

Supporting Meaningful Legislation

I co-sponsored several important bills recently:

Border Surge Response and Resilience Act

Introduced by Rep. John Katko (R-NY) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX)

This bipartisan initiative would require DHS and federal partners to establish a plan to address migrant surges at the border and provide $1 billion in federal funding to ensure border patrol agents have the resources they need to respond quickly and effectively.

Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act

Introduced by Chip Roy (R-TX)

This legislation would combat the enterprise of cartels by designating the Reynosa/Los Metros faction of the Gulf Cartel and the Cartel Del Noreste faction of Los Zetas as Foreign Terrorist Organizations under federal law. It would also require the State Department to issue a report to congress on additional cartels that meet the criteria for FTO designation and require the department to designate them as such within 30 days of the report.

Navigable Waters Protection Rule

Introduced by Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)

This resolution would reaffirm the sense of the House that clean water is a national priority and that the Navigable Waters Protection Rules, established in 2020, should not be withdrawn or vacated.

Signing Important Letters

I also signed onto letters advocating for our critical oil & gas workers and our national security.

Letter Calling to Reinstate Keystone XL Pipeline Project

I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves urging the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to take up bipartisan legislation that authorizes the Keystone XL Pipeline. As you know, President Biden issued Executive Order 13990 revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline would create 42,100 total jobs from construction to operation and is estimated to boost the U.S. GDP by $3.4 billion during construction alone.

Ports-to-Plains Highway Act Letter

My GOP colleagues and I sent a letter to Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves asking the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to take up the Ports-to-Plains Highway Act. The legislation will provide prosperity to every part of the country and recognizes the essential role of America’s small towns and rural communities in feeding, clothing, and fueling America’s cities and urban areas.

Rep. August Pfluger

Member of Congress