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.



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