[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6893-S6894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Border Security

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, 10 million. Between official U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection encounters and known ``got-aways,'' there have 
been roughly 10 million migrant encounters at our southern border 
during the Biden-Harris administration.
  To put that number in perspective, that is roughly 10 times the 
population of my home State of South Dakota. Ten million is larger than 
the population of Colorado. It is larger than the population of 
Tennessee. It is larger than the population of Maryland, of 
Massachusetts, of Indiana. I could keep going. Ten million is larger 
than the population of the vast majority of U.S. States.
  Needless to say, a crisis of this size has had consequences. Shelters 
have been overwhelmed. Border cities have been overwhelmed. Blue cities 
far from the border have been overwhelmed. Border Patrol agents are 
exhausted, as their Chief noted in an interview last week.
  I haven't even mentioned the national security implications. There is 
no question that the chaos at our southern border represents a serious 
security risk for our country. And you don't have to take my word for 
it. The Department of Homeland Security's 2025 threat assessment notes:

       Over the next year, we expect some individuals with 
     terrorism ties and some criminal actors will continue their 
     efforts to exploit migration flows and the complex border 
     security environment to enter the United States.

  That is from the Biden Department of Homeland Security's 2025 threat 
assessment.

[[Page S6894]]

  The June arrest of 8 Tajikistan nationals with suspected ties to ISIS 
who had illegally entered the country as well as the identification of 
more than 400 migrants who used an ISIS-affiliated smuggling network to 
enter the United States are just two examples of the kinds of threats 
we face.
  Then there is the fact that chaos at the border creates opportunities 
for cross-border illegal activity, like the deadly trade in fentanyl, 
which affects communities around our country. My State of South Dakota 
is about as far away from the southern border as you can get, but law 
enforcement officials consistently tell me that the illegal drugs they 
are dealing with have entered the country across our southern border.
  Four years of recordbreaking illegal immigration at our southern 
border under the Biden-Harris administration. Ten million encounters--
and those are the migrants that we know of. It has been a dangerous 4 
years, but the end is in sight. When President Trump and Republicans 
take control in January, stemming the flood of illegal immigration will 
be one of our first priorities. Under Republicans, national security 
here at home, at our borders and in our communities, will be just as 
important as taking care of our national security priorities abroad.
  We are going to start right away with a once-in-a-generation 
investment in border security and immigration enforcement here in 
Congress. Among other things, that package will include substantial 
resources to increase the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
officers and Border Patrol agents, increase detention space, and 
provide the barriers and technology we need to fully secure the border.
  There is a lot of work to do and a big mess to clean up.
  A recent article reported that there are around 1.4 million 
individuals who have been ordered to be deported but are still here in 
the United States, and most of them are not in immigration custody. And 
that is just one small corner of the problem.
  As I said, we have a lot of work to do, but Republicans are 
committed, for the sake of our national security and for the sake of 
our rule of law. Four years of recordbreaking illegal immigration, but 
the end is in sight.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hickenlooper). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.