[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Border Security

  Mr. President, on another matter, for three consecutive months, major 
national polls have ranked immigration as the most important problem 
facing our country. And this year, for the first time, a majority of 
Americans say they support erecting physical barriers--physical 
barriers--along our southern border.
  So perhaps it is not a coincidence that the Democratic leader has 
indicated his intention to once again turn the Senate's focus to the 
border crisis and to portions of the bipartisan legislation Senator 
Lankford helped produce earlier this year.
  But in his own remarks on the subject yesterday, my colleague from 
New York seemed to acknowledge what we all know: The keys to securing 
our southern border are already in the hands that created this crisis.
  As the Democratic leader proudly declared, ``President Biden . . . is 
taking action to secure our border. Last week,'' he said, ``the 
President began announcing a series of administrative actions.''
  Last week? After 3 years on the job, apparently, it is time to give 
the Commander in Chief kudos on his handling of a crisis that still 
lets nearly 5,000 people cross our border illegally in a day.
  Of course, President Biden does have the authorities he needs to 
start rapidly undoing the damage of the historic crisis that unfolded 
on his watch. How do we know? Because he voluntarily took them off the 
table on day one. ``Remain in Mexico''? Off the table. The border wall 
construction a majority of Americans support? Not a chance. Any sign at 
all that this administration would like to actually secure the border? 
Don't hold your breath.
  The path out of the deepening border crisis is actually not a 
mystery; it just requires a President who is willing to stop digging.