[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BORDER SECURITY AND CRIME

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. D'Esposito) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. D'ESPOSITO. Madam Speaker, for too long, the Biden administration 
has surrendered control of our Nation's southern border to members of 
the cartels and other bad actors who seek to do this great Nation harm.
  This inaction by the Biden administration has allowed an untold 
number of illegal migrants, drug smugglers, and human traffickers to 
cross into our country with ease.
  Many of these illegal entrants bring anarchy to our streets by 
committing violent crimes and help fuel America's drug crisis by 
smuggling in dangerous narcotics such as fentanyl.
  Since Joe Biden has taken office, over 4.7 million illegal immigrants 
have been apprehended at our southern border, representing a 500 
percent increase in border crossings since 2020.
  While many have been apprehended, thousands of migrants have evaded 
capture by Federal authorities, including 70,000 known got-aways in 
December of 2022 alone.
  These migrants remain unaccounted for, and now are free to roam the 
streets of our cities and towns, endangering the lives of innocent 
Americans.
  In fact, earlier this month, four migrants who were bused to New York 
from the southern border were arrested on Long Island after stealing 
thousands of dollars in merchandise from a store in my district.
  Thanks to the hard work of the Nassau County Police Department they 
were apprehended. Unfortunately, in New York, Democrats have put 
criminals ahead of law-abiding citizens and those individuals were 
released once again to wreak havoc on our communities.
  While I am glad that these thieves were captured, local law 
enforcement should not be forced to deal with the end result of Joe 
Biden's failed border policy.
  If President Biden is serious about securing our border and 
preventing migrants from committing crimes, like what happened in the 
Fourth Congressional District of New York, he would stop underfunding 
Customs and Border Protection and treat our Border Patrol agents the 
way they should be treated and provide the agency the resources it 
needs to secure our borders here in America.
  As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I fully intend to 
hold the President and Secretary Mayorkas accountable for their 
disastrous open border policies and seek solutions that safeguard this 
great Nation.

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