Blackburn, Hyde-Smith, Britt witness human smuggling at southern border
January 11, 2023; 12:28 p.m.

EAGLE PASS, TX -- U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) along with U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) witnessed firsthand human smugglers leading illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexico border.

“President Joe Biden has created a humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border,” said Senators Blackburn, Hyde-Smith and Britt. “In Eagle Pass, we witnessed dozens of illegal immigrants cross into the United States. Over 1,000 immigrants were detained in the Del Rio Sector alone on Sunday evening. Local, state and federal law enforcement made it clear to us that to get the situation under control, they need President Biden to do his job and enforce the immigration laws on the books.”

The Senators held a roundtable with from former Mexican Congresswoman Rosa María de la Garza, Fox News Contributor Sara Carter and Karla Jacinto Romero, a survivor of human trafficking. The Senators learned about cartel activity in Mexico and the work being done to rescue victims of human trafficking.

During their trip, the Senators received an operational briefing from Victor Escalon, Regional Director South Texas, Texas Department of Public Safety; Jon Anfinsen, National Border Patrol Union; and members of the Texas Department of Military.

When President Biden took office, he stopped deporting illegal immigrants and has prevented border patrol agents from doing their jobs. Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) stepped up to the plate by implementing Operation Lone Star to keep Americans safe. In the last year, Texas has also built over 70 miles of border fence.

Still, ranchers and Texans are overwhelmed by President Biden’s border crisis. They cannot even go out in their own backyards without fear of being robbed by smugglers. This is not how people should be living in the United States.