Billy Long: If you don't build it (the wall), they will come

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

For months now, I have listened to the “never Trumpers” and Democrats say there is no emergency at our southern border, but the numbers tell a different story. What was once a bipartisan issue has now turned into a political talking point for Democrats who refuse to acknowledge the growing problem.

As top Democrats continue to play political games, experts from their own party are starting to admit there is a crisis. Recently, former President Obama’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson admitted that we are truly in a crisis when asked about the more than 4,000 migrants apprehended at the southern border in one day.

Yes, that’s right, one day. Not in one month or one year, but one day. That’s how bad the crisis has gotten.

Last month alone, nearly 80,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended at the southern border. Not only are the number of apprehensions each month going up, the number of large caravans of illegals have increased. In previous years, usually only between one or two large groups of migrants travel to our southern border. In 2019, we’ve already had 100 large group of migrants.

What makes matters even worse is the toll it has taken on our border patrol agents. This crisis has pushed our understaffed immigration facilities to beyond capacity. Our broken system that currently operates under the philosophy of “catch-and-release” has been forced to just release.

DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, along with personnel on the ground, have repeatedly asked Congress for help only to have Democrats refuse. That’s why President Trump has taken it upon himself to fix this growing problem. In February, the president declared a national emergency to access additional funding already appropriated by Congress to build a wall on our southern border.

Along with declaring a national emergency, President Trump just this week cut nearly $500 million in foreign aid to Central American countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras while also giving Mexico one year to stem the flow through their country or pay a substantial price. What some say is an aggressive response in reality is a reasonable action given these countries inability to help reduce the flow of migrants.







Recently, border patrol agent, Fernando Grijalva, surprised CBS reporter, Mireya Villarreal, when he told her that the crisis at the border was the worst that he has seen in decades between the U.S. and Mexico in Arizona. He said the area had become a hotbed for illegal crossings. To quote him he said, "Let me put it this way, I've seen six different presidents in the time that I've been with the Border Patrol, and this is the worst crisis that I've seen.” She then asked him to repeat his use of the word crisis. "You actually will use that word, crisis?" she asked. A simple "Yes," was his response.

It’s as plain as the nose on your face: there is a crisis at the southern border. When I quiz my Democrat colleagues as to whether they will admit it truly is a crisis they usually respond with something similar to, “Sure I do but you don’t understand Billy we can’t afford to let the president have a win on anything.” The longer we go without addressing it the worse it will get. I will continue to support President Trump’s efforts to continue encouraging legal immigration, and to hold other countries accountable for their citizens that enter illegally.