[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 29 (Thursday, February 14, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2001-H2002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            BORDER SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, in fiscal year 2018, more than 
2,000

[[Page H2002]]

illegal aliens were apprehended by Federal agents for homicides 
committed on American soil. In addition, over 70,000 Americans are 
killed each year by poisonous drugs, much of which is shipped illegally 
into America across our porous southern border by illegal aliens, MS-
13, and other drug cartels.
  Stronger border security, which must include wall construction, will 
save thousands of American lives each year.
  Unfortunately, in the worst betrayal of America in history, socialist 
Democrats, motivated by a lust for political power, selfishly elevate 
illegal aliens over American citizens because illegal alien families 
overwhelmingly rely on welfare, thus making them highly reliable 
Democrat voters who elect socialist Democrat politicians by diluting 
the votes of American citizens.
  Inasmuch as socialist Democrats refuse to protect American lives from 
illegal alien homicides, drug deaths, and America's porous southern 
border, I urge President Trump to secure our borders and build the wall 
under existing law and Presidential powers.
  For example, title 10, section 284 of the United States Code empowers 
Presidents to order America's military to assist Federal drug and law 
enforcement agencies in the fight against drug and transnational 
organized crime.
  Pursuant to this law, the President may deploy active military and 
National Guard troops to establish and operate bases of operations; 
detect and monitor surface traffic in Mexico and in the United States 
within 25 miles of the southern border; construct roads, fences, 
barriers, and lighting to block drug smuggling corridors across the 
southern border; and use aerial and ground reconnaissance.
  For emphasis, this Federal law empowers President Trump to order 
America's military to construct walls and barriers to block drug 
smuggling corridors, with the side benefit of stopping illegal aliens.
  Mr. Speaker, another example of existing Presidential authority is 
the power to declare a national emergency and divert congressionally 
appropriated money to border security and wall construction.
  America invaded Iraq and Afghanistan based on 9/11 terrorist attacks 
that killed roughly 3,000 people. In response, America spent trillions 
of dollars and lost thousands of lives in military actions in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.

  While 9/11 was horrific, 9/11 deaths pale in comparison to hundreds 
of thousands of Americans who are dead or will die over the years 
because of illegal alien homicides and overdoses caused by deadly drugs 
shipped across America's porous southern border.
  For emphasis, a minimum of 50 Americans die each day we delay 
securing our southern border. That is a minimum of 15,000 dead 
Americans each year. This death rate easily justifies a Presidential 
declaration of a national emergency. In fact, not one of the 58 
national emergencies declared by a President since 1979 is supported by 
a worse death rate or threat to America and American lives.
  Mr. Speaker, an extraordinarily weak and conflicted Congress is of no 
help. Worse yet, this Congress is a hindrance. As such, I urge 
President Trump, as America's Commander in Chief, to invoke title 10 
United States Code section 284, declare a national emergency, and use 
every other authority, statutorily and constitutionally, he possesses 
to direct the military to secure our southern border, build the wall, 
and protect and save American lives.
  America's military protects the borders and lives in South Korea, 
Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Europe, and many other countries. America and 
Americans deserve no less protection.

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