The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 shook everyone awake to the fact that global terrorists have pledged to kill us and harm our country.
After recognizing that our open society and open borders was an invitation to terrorists, Congress and the public decided we needed a specific agency to patrol our interior from foreign threats. In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security established the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency as one of three DHS agencies in charge of the immigration system. The development of ICE was the single largest government rearrangement since the the Department of Defense. For the past 15 years, we have trusted our ICE agents to work with the Department of Homeland Security and protect our country from another foreign attack. The Center for Immigration Studies found that at least 22 of the 48 al Qaeda foreign-born terrorists found operating in the United States from 1993 to 2001 had committed significant violations of immigration laws.
Recently, severely misguided people, including members of Congress, have called to “abolish” ICE. To say this is short-sighted and ridiculous is being polite. Open border advocates favor criminals over taxpaying citizens. Open borders activists put our lives at risk due to terrorism, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and gun running. Their zeal to “transform” America into another third world S-hole knows few boundaries.
I will go to the mat for ICE. The people who make up this agency work to protect our communities from criminal activities that put our families in danger. It is alarming that many of the people calling to abolish ICE are my Democratic colleagues. This is just one of their many efforts to weaken our immigration system.
Up until recently, I thought it was unanimously agreed that America does not support drug dealers, gang members, murderers, and rapists; however, the recent push to abolish ICE has us all second guessing.
The protests against ICE are misguided and dangerous. The need for our ICE agents is higher than ever. I will continue to vote to increase ICE funding to get even more agents on the ground. Our lives depend on it.
Last year, ICE agents were responsible for seizing 2,379 pounds of fentanyl and 6,967 pounds of heroin. In addition, ICE agents have arrested illegal aliens who were charged and convicted of crimes including sexual assault, kidnapping, and homicide. Overall, the agency was responsible for arresting 127,000 illegal aliens in the last year. Say what you will about federal government agencies being inefficient, ICE is one agency showing real results.
I stand behind our ICE agents and support their efforts to protect our nation.
I will continue to uphold the law of the land and fight for those who enforce it. I’m thankful for these agents who work every day to keep our communities safer.
Instead of abolishing ICE, let’s put an end to crime, terrorism, drug-running, and illegal immigration.
Rep. Paul Gosar, a Republican, represents Arizona’s fourth congressional district. You can follow him on Twitter: @REPGOSAR
