WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined colleagues at a press conference today to discuss the ongoing border crisis and its consequences for the country.  
 
Grassley’s brief remarks are transcribed below and can be watched HERE or downloaded HERE.  


 
“At my county meetings in Iowa, I hear about the problems of the crisis at the border. I hear about illegal immigrants coming to our country. They want the president of the United States to enforce the law. Governor Reynolds is at the border today with several other governors, because this is not a Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California problem. This is a problem for all 50 states in the United States. And when illegal drugs come into Iowa from across the border, it’s because the president isn’t enforcing the laws. When 15 percent of the people come across the border that have the virus, it’s spreading the virus around the other 50 states. When we get terrorists arrested at the border, it’s a national security issue. When we have law enforcement issues with criminals coming across the border, it’s a problems for all 50 states. So I’m proud of my governor going to the border to bring attention to it—and other governors down there as well today—because this is not just a problem at the southern border, this is a problem that affects all 50 states. And the president of the United States takes an oath to uphold the Constitution and enforce the laws, and he’s not doing it. And he should be doing it. Until he does it we’re going to have a continuing problem.” 
 
In April and again last month, Grassley led his Republican Judiciary Committee colleagues in demanding that the chairman finally hold an oversight hearing about the now-many-months-old border crisis. The chairman has finally indicated the committee will hear from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas later this month.  
 
Grassley also joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in introducing the Be Gone Act today, which will give the Department of Homeland Security more authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to deport individuals in the United States who have been convicted of violent sex crimes or sexual assault. 
 
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