Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, legislation to keep America safe by securing our border.

“Because of Joe Biden’s disastrous open border policies, hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens are literally rushing across our border, destroying communities, overwhelming our hospitals and costing American taxpayers nearly $200 billion dollars.

Biden has created the worst border crisis in our lifetime, welcoming with open arms more than 6.5 million lawbreakers into our nation since his first day in office.  Alarmingly, more than 14,000 pounds of deadly fentanyl have poured into our country during Biden’s time in office.  In the last 18 months, 178 terrorists have crossed the southern border.

My home state of Arizona is getting pummeled by the flood of invading illegals.  I have visited the border countless times.  I have witnessed firsthand the destruction caused by this lawlessness.

Today, Republicans in congress delivered on our promise to secure the border and combat illegal immigration.  The Secure the Border Act restarts construction of the border wall halted by Joe Biden as part of his 94 executive orders to overturn the border security initiatives put in place by President Trump.  The Secure the Border Act also will stop the flood of fentanyl by increasing the number of Border Patrol agents along the southern border while providing bonus pay to the hardworking men and women protecting our border that have been sidelined and disgraced by Joe Biden.  It also ends Biden’s reckless catch and release program that has allowed untold millions of illegals to simply walk into neighborhoods all across America.

With this vote, Republicans have done what Joe Biden refuses to do: secure the border, stop the lawlessness and make America safe.  I am proud to have cast my vote in favor of the Secure the Border Act,” concluded Congressman Gosar.