[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 102 (Tuesday, June 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3645-S3646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Border Security

  Mrs. FISCHER. Madam President, I rise today to discuss what is 
happening at our southern border, and I call upon my colleagues in 
Congress to act quickly to address this humanitarian crisis.
  Last month, terrifying reports surfaced of an illegal immigrant from 
Guatemala who traveled with an 8-year-old boy across the U.S.-Mexico 
border near Arizona. When Border Patrol agents apprehended him, the man 
claimed that the boy was his son, but the agents learned 4 days later 
that he wasn't.
  According to the Arizona Daily Star, Homeland Security investigations 
reported that the man claimed that ``he had looked for a child in 
Guatemala to cross the United States-Mexico international border with 
as he was told that it was easier to get into the United States with a 
child.'' The illegal immigrant allegedly paid the boy about $130 to 
``rent the child'' and an additional $130 for a fake birth certificate.
  Tragically, this is a story we are hearing more and more about as the 
border crisis rages on. Homeland Security investigators are working to 
understand the extent of troubling cases on our border, where adults 
are using children who have no family relation in order for them to 
become eligible for release after they are apprehended. The practice 
has been occurring frequently enough that the Department of Homeland 
Security now refers to it as ``child recycling rings.''
  Smugglers and cartels are well aware of legal loopholes that 
incentivize these criminals to manipulate vulnerable populations. Our 
current legal framework makes it easier to turn a profit by smuggling 
individuals with young children.
  DHS has recorded nearly 4,800 migrants in 2019 who have falsely 
identified themselves as family units.
  Recently, we received the welcome news that the Trump administration 
reached a deal with Mexico to ensure better immigration enforcement at 
the border. This agreement was an important step in the right direction 
at a time when our Nation needs it most. Both countries have declared a 
shared

[[Page S3646]]

goal of upholding the rule of law on both sides of the border. I am 
grateful for the President's hard work to secure our border, to keep 
this country safe, and to continue our trade with a key partner.
  This deal is a critical step forward, and it is taking place not a 
moment too soon. Illegal border crossings at the southern border have 
reached staggering rates this past spring. Last March alone, there were 
more than 103,000 apprehensions, and in April there were another 
109,000. In May apprehensions at points of entry reached over 144,000. 
That is a 32-percent increase over the month of April. We have had over 
100,000 apprehensions on the border each month for 3 months in a row. 
Sustained numbers like these haven't been witnessed in over 12 years.
  The question remains: What concrete steps are we taking as a nation 
to stop this?
  Our Border Patrol agents, who are working as hard as they possibly 
can, cannot keep up with the record surge of people coming into our 
country without authorization. Our ability to provide the care and 
attention for detained individuals is at a breaking point.
  As we know, this includes tens of thousands of innocent children. 
Acting Secretary McAleenan recently testified at a Senate Judiciary 
Committee where he noted that in the last 40 days alone, DHS has taken 
into custody 60,000 children. He also testified last month that border 
officials saw a record day of over 5,800 border crossings in a single 
24-hour period. This comes in addition to the largest single group ever 
apprehended at our border--1,036 people.
  Facilities along the border haven't just reached full capacity. They 
are overflowing. On June 10, the Department of Health and Human 
Services reported that they had fewer than 700 beds available to place 
1,900 unaccompanied children who had already been processed by Customs 
and Border Protection. This is forcing HHS to place children with 
sponsors at higher rates than the program has experienced in its 
history. It also increases pressure to find space for the influx of 
children within CBP facilities, which were not built for this purpose 
in any way.
  HHS desperately needs additional funding to expand its bed capacity 
so that they can keep pace with the increasing numbers of unaccompanied 
children. At this rate, HHS may not have the necessary funding to 
continue their care programs beyond the month of June.
  The situation is clear. Congress needs to act, and we need to act 
right now. Chairman Shelby recently announced that the Senate 
Appropriations Committee will vote soon on a $4.5 billion package. Over 
$3 billion would be directed to help resolve the humanitarian crisis by 
increasing the care for unaccompanied children and expanding those 
shelter facilities. The remaining $1 billion would fortify our security 
missions.
  To the ears of the American people, this may sound like an overdue, 
commonsense relief effort, and that is because it is. Unfortunately, 
our Democratic friends have prioritized their starring role in the 
political theater over our country's emergency at the southern border.
  Over 6 weeks ago, the administration sent an urgent plea to Congress 
asking for more money to secure our border and improve the conditions 
for tens of thousands of children. It is unacceptable that Democrats in 
the House and right here in the Senate are playing politics at a time 
when our Nation needs stability.
  In the coming weeks, Senate Republicans will be waiting at the table 
to work toward bipartisan solutions to address the crisis at the border 
and provide the funding that is desperately needed. I hope that my 
Democratic colleagues will meet us there.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.