[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H1504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SECURE THE SOUTHERN BORDER

  (Mr. ALLEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, there is an undeniable crisis along our 
southern border, and the most recent numbers we have received are 
alarming.
  Last month, there were over 100,000 illegal immigrants encountered at 
our border. That is a 173 percent increase from the same time last year 
and the highest number of encounters in 7 years.
  From January to February of this year, we saw a 163 percent increase 
of family unit encounters, a 61 percent increase in unaccompanied 
minors, and a 28 percent increase in encounters overall.
  This surge is a direct result of the Biden administration's failure 
to secure our border and enforce our immigration laws.
  Now we face a humanitarian crisis. While the President refuses to 
acknowledge this dire situation, my Democratic colleagues are turning a 
deaf ear by advancing two bills this week to grant blanket amnesty to 
millions of illegals. Are you kidding me?
  This sends the wrong message that our borders are open and that our 
laws don't matter, which will only incentivize more illegal 
immigration. It is time to build a wall, end policies like catch and 
release, and oppose mass amnesty. We must secure our border.

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