Issue Position: Protecting our Borders

Issue Position

Over the summer of 2010 I ordered a full field investigation of security conditions on our southern border, focused on our Texas border and our border sheriffs, in coordination with the House Immigration Reform Caucus. I personally went to the border and talked with our border sheriffs as part of that effort.

The results of that investigation reveal we need 25,000 troops deployed immediately -- armed, with powers of detention, and ON the Rio Grande, not miles back -- to secure our homeland against a spillover of the Mexican drug wars into our country.

The investigation report, which you can find online, contains 12 legislative recommendations to undo two decades of border neglect, and I will be working with responsible members of both parties to pass those measures into law over the next session of Congress. We can talk about immigration reform AFTER that has been accomplished.

In the past, I have supported and voted for billions of dollars for border security measures, including a 700 mile border fence, additional border patrol agents, and border surveillance equipment.

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