[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 28, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2061-S2062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, as a U.S. Senator, I want to make sure 
we can keep America safe and secure. People who share that goal also 
share a common belief. The belief is this: Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement and Border Patrol have an important mission for our Nation. 
Their mission is to keep America safe and secure.
  At this very moment, these vital Agencies are running out of money. 
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin has warned that the 
money will run out by the end of this week. We are just days away from 
a law enforcement funding shortfall. If ICE and Border Patrol go 
unfunded, America itself will become less safe.
  Last week, Republicans here in the U.S. Senate passed a budget 
blueprint, and it fully funds these critical Agencies. That budget has 
now been sent to the House of Representatives. Speaker Johnson has 
pledged to all of us that he will put it on the floor as soon as 
tomorrow, and I encourage my colleagues there to pass it without delay. 
A targeted and focused bill is the right path because it is the 
quickest path. It funds American law enforcement now. It protects the 
American people now as well as into the future.
  If you believe in secure borders, this bill is for you. If you 
believe in safe communities, this bill is for you. If you want our law 
enforcement fully funded for the long term despite the Democrats' best 
efforts to defund them, this bill is for you.
  This bill is also President Trump's bill. A few weeks ago, the 
President gave it his complete and total endorsement. I was with the 
President in the Oval Office, and we sat down and went through it. 
President Trump has been clear. He says he wants this funding bill on 
his desk. Senate Republicans heard him loud and clear. We stuck 
together. We passed a budget blueprint. It is one that keeps America 
safe. Republicans need to continue to stick together to meet the 
President's deadline.
  Every Republican knows why this reconciliation process is necessary. 
It is necessary because, as President Trump has rightfully said, 
protecting American citizens is the first duty of government, and it is 
necessary because, as Senate Democrats continue to demonstrate, 
protecting American citizens is something that Democrats oppose. They 
have actively obstructed it.

[[Page S2062]]

  Last week, the minority leader came to this floor, and he delivered a 
statement which I found very disturbing. I found it disturbing and also 
misleading and wrong. The Senator from New York, who just left the 
floor a few moments ago, stood here and said Republicans are funding 
``two groups: Border Patrol and ICE,'' and he went on to say ``that 
nobody respects in this country.'' Those are the words of the minority 
leader, the Senator from New York. He said nobody respects them in this 
country. That statement alone is blatantly false. The heroes of ICE and 
Border Patrol spend their days arresting gang members, seizing 
fentanyl, and securing the border. The American people know it, and the 
American people respect it. Americans all across this country honor 
their service and their sacrifice.
  Let me tell you what Americans don't respect, and let me tell you 
what Americans flat-out reject: It is the Democrats who call to defund 
the police. It is the Democrats who call to abolish ICE and to abolish 
our Border Patrol.
  That is why today's Democrat Party is the way it is. It is because 
that is what they stand for. The Democrats would rather protect illegal 
immigrant criminals than law-abiding U.S. citizens.
  The American people voted for secure borders. They voted for safe 
communities. President Trump and Republicans have delivered. Look at 
the historic border security accomplishments. What you have seen now 
under Republican leadership is that zero--absolutely zero--illegal 
immigrants have been released into our country in nearly a year.
  Democrats want to return to the days of open borders. Well, Americans 
had open borders for 4 years under Joe Biden. It was one of the most 
dangerous and deadly times in American history. Ten million illegal 
immigrants flooded into our country. Open borders are a magnet, and 
they were a magnet and were proven to be a magnet for hardened 
criminals, for drug dealers, and for terror suspects.
  Americans are done with this catch-and-release program. Americans are 
done with open borders.
  ICE and Border Patrol deserve to be paid. ICE and Border Patrol 
deserve to have the tools, the resources, and the support they need 
each and every day to carry out their mission. It is time for Congress 
to fund these heroes who keep our country safe.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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