Chico Times

(Washington, D.C.) – On May 11, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R – Richvale) voted in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023. The package serves two fundamental goals: to secure the border and combat illegal immigration.

Upon taking office in January 2021, President Biden immediately halted wall construction on the southern border, paying contractors to not build the wall, and left over 150 miles of planned border wall unbuilt and materials to rust in the desert. Biden Administration policies undercut Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts by prohibiting agents from carrying out deportations and took immediate steps to end the Migrant Protection Protocols. Additionally, the Biden Administration conceded that there would be a surge to the border once Title 42 was lifted on May 11, 2023. In reality, the surge is already here.

“This Administration's surrender of our southern border has caused chaos for border towns and states. It has allowed dangerous drugs like fentanyl to be easily trafficked over the border, now becoming one of the leading causes of death for Americans aged 18-45. It has allowed a surge of millions of illegal immigrants to overwhelm our border enforcement and immigration system. H.R. 2 is a comprehensive border security package that will bring order to our border, restore American sovereignty, and stop the flow of drugs and human trafficking into our country," said Rep. LaMalfa.

Highlights of the bill includes:

- Requires the Biden Administration to restart construction of the border wall.

- Reforms the asylum system by preventing fraud, raising the credible fear standard, and returning asylum to its historical roots and original intent.

- Increases the number of Border Patrol agents and provides bonus pay.

- Ends the Biden Administration’s “catch and release” policy and gives the federal government additional tools to secure the border.

- Strengthens current law to protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking and ensures that families remain together, and children are reunited with their parents.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

Original source can be found here