Congressman Ben Cline, a Republican from Virginia, expressed skepticism on Wednesday about the likelihood of securing the southern border in the near future, citing what he perceives as a lack of prioritization from the White House and the Senate.
Speaking on the “Just the News, No Noise” TV show, Cline emphasized that securing the border is a top priority for House Republicans. He lamented the apparent lack of compromise from the Senate and the White House, which he believes is hindering progress on the issue.
Cline highlighted the surge in migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border during President Joe Biden’s administration, pointing to statistics from the Department of Homeland Security indicating a significant backlog in tracking and vetting illegal aliens inside the U.S.
He also noted an increase in arrests of suspected terrorists and violent offenders. According to Cline, conservative lawmakers are advocating for measures to address illegal immigration comprehensively.
This includes allocating resources to support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at the border, but also implementing strategies to deter illegal crossings, such as completing the border wall, detaining individuals who cross illegally, and implementing measures to control the flow of migration.
However, Cline expressed frustration that despite efforts from House Republicans, progress on securing the border has been stymied by what he perceives as a lack of unity within the party and opposition from the Senate and the White House.
He voiced concerns that despite Republican efforts, a lack of sufficient support within their own party could prevent meaningful action on border security.