ICYMI: Sen. Cruz: Texans Are Stepping Up to Address the Border Crisis
Meets with border security officials in South Texas
EDINBURG, Texas -- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today attended a briefing with border security enforcement officials and received an update on security efforts in the region. Following the briefing, Sen. Cruz held a media availability.
"We need Congress to bring people together and start solving these problems," Sen. Cruz said. "To stop talking about it and to work together to solve it. And I will say again, it was encouraging listening to local sheriffs, local chiefs of police, local law enforcement, DPS [Texas Department of Public Safety], and the federal agencies, that on the ground, Texans are stepping up to do what we can to solve the problem. That's the spirit that brings our state together...."
On cooperation between the Border Patrol and law enforcement agencies, Sen. Cruz said: "The most encouraging aspect was the increased cooperation we're seeing between the Border Patrol, federal agencies and state and local law enforcement. And consistently, I heard across the board that cooperation is making a real difference, that we're seeing a greater rate of apprehension that is certainly encouraging. At the same time, we heard concerns consistently of the need for more boots on the ground. Every time I've had the opportunity to meet with law enforcement, to meet with the Border Patrol, that's the consistent message one hears from the ground is that the security threats remain significant and that we need adequate manpower, adequate tools to secure our border and to protect our nation. I certainly commend the Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement that every day stand up and risk their lives to keep us safe."
Regarding the Obama Administration's failure to secure the border, Sen. Cruz said: "One of the challenges that is present with customs and the Border Patrol is that this Administration has been unwilling to enforce the law in a way that is consistent with federal law. It is the obligation of the President under the Constitution to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. And it is a very difficult thing to ask law enforcement agents to work in agencies when the Commander-in-Chief is not following the law."
Sen. Cruz concluded, "There is no stronger advocate of legal immigration in the United States Senate than I am. Ronald Reagan referred to legal immigrants, immigrants like my father, as Americans by choice. And if we had leadership from the President we could solve these problems."
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