[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 11 (Monday, January 22, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Border Security

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this week, Senator Lankford and several 
colleagues continue their work to finalize the most substantial border 
security policy in 30 years. This agreement would come not a moment too 
soon. Over the past 3 years, we have watched the flood of illegal 
immigration tick past 6.7 million encounters--6.7 million since 
President Biden took office and an especially alarming surge just last 
year. December reportedly saw the highest monthly total for border 
encounters on record.
  The President's open borders have meant booming business for the 
cartels who specialize in trafficking humans and smuggling drugs and 
far harsher realities for American communities grappling with lethal 
fentanyl and the thousands of people who have died trying to cross.
  This is a crisis, whether the Washington Democrats are willing to 
call it one or not. The American people recognize what CBP and ICE are 
up against, even if their Commander in Chief does not. And the entire 
world understands what is at stake here in the Senate in the coming 
weeks.
  America's national security begins with securing and maintaining our 
borders. It is a matter of basic sovereignty.