National Security Leaders' Statement on House Border Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Anna Nix Kumar
akumar@monumentadvocacy.com

WASHINGTON – Council on National Security and Immigration (CNSI) leaders Doug Baker and Joe Whitley today released a statement on the Secure the Border Act of 2023.

“For well over a decade, Congress has put off passing meaningful immigration legislation that secures our border and bolsters our national security,” said Joe Whitley. “It is good to see Washington turn its attention to the southern border, but our representatives must remember border security is only one piece of the immigration puzzle, and additional reforms are needed to ensure our workforce is strong and our immigration processes are timely and effective.”

“It is a humanitarian imperative to stop the unprecedented surge of vulnerable migrants at our border, who are crossing into the United States in dangerous conditions with no support system once they arrive,” said Doug Baker. “While this legislation provides ways to address the surge of migrants at the border, it’s critical the bill does not turn rightful asylum applicants away. CNSI is also concerned about the bill’s impact on the ability of the executive branch to respond quickly to assist allies in emergency situations, like we saw in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

“As we continue into the 118th Congress, it is necessary that any immigration bills considered by the House and Senate place national security as a top priority.”

“We are encouraged to see the House of Representatives prioritize immigration reforms, but urge Congress to take a broader approach addressing other parts of the immigration system, including enhancing our workforce, providing a permanent solution for Dreamers, and unclogging bottlenecks in our current immigration system with appropriate funding,” said Joe Whitley.

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