[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23080-23081]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         PROTECTING OUR BORDERS

  (Mr. CULBERSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CULBERSON. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the President of the 
United States for speaking out so forcefully yesterday with Secretary 
Chertoff and reiterating that they are determined to protect our 
borders and to prevent or stop the uncontrolled flood of illegal 
immigration into this country.
  This is a law-and-order issue. I just returned form a visit to the 
Rio Grande River, and you do not need to go to Baghdad to see the war 
on terror. Nuevo Laredo is essentially a ghost town. Laredo is under 
siege. The largest inland port in the United States, Laredo, is in a 
state of war. It is besieged by narcoterrorists who are equipped with 
the very best weapons and best equipment.
  The sheriff and the local authorities are outgunned and overmatched. 
Our Border Patrol is outgunned and overmatched.
  Mr. President, thank you, sir. We need you, with the stroke of a pen, 
please reinforce the Border Patrol. Help our local law enforcement 
authorities defend the peace and prosperity of the United States or our 
way of life may, indeed, change.
  Thank you, Mr. President. The American people are way beyond the 
tipping point in frustration and outrage at the unprotected borders and 
this flood of illegal immigration, and we are very grateful to you, 
sir, for stepping up to protect our borders.

[[Page 23081]]



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