ICYMI: Biden Needs to Listen to Officials on the Border to Solve Crisis
Grassley surveys border facilities, speaks about crisis sparked by Biden policy
BUTLER
COUNTY, IOWA – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) last week visited several
facilities and areas on the Texas-Mexico border affected by the ongoing crisis sparked
and exacerbated by Biden administration policy. Grassley conducted the visit as
part of a 18-member delegation from the Senate.
The
delegation of senators received information and briefings from officers with U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Texas Department of Public Safety and
local elected officials who represent areas affected by the border crisis.
Grassley
serves as Ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees
immigration policy. He indicated that he wants to help develop immigration legislation,
but that the initial and primary focus needs to be on border security. At the
border, Grassley said:
“…we have a
crisis at the border because this administration wouldn’t listen to the people that
had tens and tens and tens years of experience with the problems here at the
border.”
Grassley’s
full remarks are transcribed below or can be viewed HERE.
“We learned from the border patrol that they
were asked a long time before the inauguration of the new president, their
advice on how to handle situations at the borders. We’re told that they were
advised more than once not to change the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy. They didn’t
take that advice, so we have a crisis at the border because this administration
wouldn’t listen to the people that had tens and tens and tens years of
experience with the problems here at the border. So this crisis is because this
administration would not listen to good advice. And it’s become a national
security problem, a law enforcement problem, a humanitarian problem. And a lot
of other things, as well.
“And yet, they want an immigration bill
passed. How can you pass an immigration bill, when you have an open border? If
they want to accomplish anything on immigration—and I want to help them, it would
be secure the border. You’ve got to stop the bleeding before you can take care
of the problem.”
The
full press conference, with remarks from other senators present, can be found HERE.
More
observations directly from the senator follow.