[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H4144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S CONTINUED INACTION AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Tenney). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 9, 2023, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Edwards) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority 
leader.
  Mr. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, today, I rise on behalf of my 
constituents in western North Carolina to demand accountability for the 
Biden administration's continued inaction at our southern border.
  After more than 7.9 million illegal immigrant encounters in only 3\1/
2\ years, the American people are wondering when will enough be enough 
for the Biden administration to finally stand up and stop this disaster 
at our border, a disaster that Joe Biden's policies have directly 
caused.
  Tuesday, June 3, Joe Biden issued an executive order that claimed to 
finally restrict migrants' ability to seek asylum if they crossed into 
the country illegally, but if you look at that executive order closely, 
you will realize this is just more smoke and mirrors.
  The executive order is nothing more than a desperate political stunt 
to stabilize his election numbers and does nothing to actually restore 
order or secure our border. The executive order continues to allow at 
least 2,500 illegal crossings per day, giving the green light to nearly 
1 million new illegal crossings every year.
  While 1 million crossings may not be Joe Biden's personal best, it is 
still a record high number of crossings per year across past 
administrations.
  Worst of all, the executive order exempts unaccompanied children from 
the tally so human traffickers and parents are just going to continue 
to smuggle minors illegally across the border.
  Need us forget that for the last 3 years, Biden has insisted that 
there is no border crisis. Suddenly, 5 months before the general 
election, Joe Biden admits that there is a crisis and suddenly has a 
solution.
  I encourage the American people to take a real hard look at the 
supposed solution because it is a sham. It is time Biden take 
accountability for what he has caused at our southern border and 
actually take meaningful action to fix this mess.
  Despite making no real progress on securing our border, if this 
executive order made anything clear, it is that his hands are not tied.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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