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Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, since January, Democrats have refused to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement; they have refused to fund U.S. Border Patrol. Month after month after month, Democrats have tried to defund law enforcement in America. When illegal immigrant criminals roam freely, our communities are less safe.

The Biden administration tried an open borders approach. From Fairfax County, VA, to San Francisco, CA, Democrats' sanctuary cities all across America continue this dangerous and deadly experiment. Consider the families of Laken Riley, Stephanie Minter, and Sheridan Gorman. These families are mourning the tragic loss of their loved ones, each murdered by an illegal immigrant criminal.

It is time for Congress to fully fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE and Border Patrol keep our communities safe. They protect our country at great risk to themselves personally. The work they do is important, it is urgent, and it is necessary. And the results are undeniable. For the last 12 months, absolutely zero illegal immigrants have been released into our communities through the Biden catch-and-release program.

Republicans are going to make sure that our Border Patrol is fully funded--all of it. This week, the Senate will vote on the SECURE America Act. The SECURE America Act will keep our Nation strong, and it will keep our communities safe. The SECURE America Act funds ICE and Border Patrol. It does it for 3 full years. It builds on the border security successes of the Laken Riley Act, the HALT Fentanyl Act, and the Working Families Tax Cut law. Most importantly, the SECURE America Act guarantees Democrats cannot defund American security during the administration of President Trump.

The SECURE America Act also improves training for Secret Service agents. This prepares agents to counter the evolving threats that we face. It safeguards major national events and every American who attends them. This weekend is the Indianapolis 500. The World Cup is coming up. The 2028 Olympic Games are right around the corner. Americans from coast to coast will be safer when the SECURE America Act becomes law.

Every single Democrat here in the Senate opposes the SECURE America Act. Senator Schumer vowed to fight it. He said he would use ``every tool in our arsenal.'' Why is he saying this? Because Democrats believe in open borders. They are the party of open borders. They are the party of ``defund the police.''

Democrats' outright opposition to protecting the American people contrasts sharply with their own personal demands, which is opposite of what they want for the American people. Democrats are demanding more personal security for themselves but not for the American people.

Following the murder of a State representative last year, Senator Schumer complained and said:

[W]e need more protection. We need more money.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut warned that limited resources, he said, ``should not be the reason why an assassination of a member of Congress is successful.''

Do you know the amount of money that Democrats have demanded? One billion dollars. One billion dollars to protect themselves, but they vote against protecting our communities. It is wrong. Democrats are much more supportive of protecting themselves and illegal immigrant criminals than they are of protecting the citizens of this great Nation.

The message from the Democrats is this: Our Nation's safety and security doesn't matter.

My message is this: The safety and security of our citizens and our communities should be the No. 1 priority of everyone serving in the U.S. Senate.

Republicans are going to stand up to protect American citizens. We will pass the SECURE America Act, and we will continue to keep American communities safe.

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