On Thursday, Representative Chip Roy addressed the House chamber ahead of Congress’ vote on H.R. 2, The Secure the Border Act 2023. The House passed a GOP-backed bill to address immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, the day Title 42 restrictions were lifted.
Two Republicans, John Duarte of California and Thomas Massie of Kentucky — joined all Democrats in opposing the measure. The measure passed in a 219-213 vote.
“We’re here today because of the abject failure of the administration to do its fundamental duty to protect the United States. We have a wide-open border — empowering cartels, empowering China, to the detriment of the American citizens and to the migrants that seek to come here — supposedly, in the name of compassion,” began Roy. “But that is in a false name of compassion.”
The legislation, known as the Secure the Border Act of 2023, would mandate that Customs and Border Protection hire enough Border Patrol agents to maintain a staff of 22,000 and develop a plan to upgrade existing technology to make sure agents are well-equipped. It also would require the homeland security secretary to resume construction of the border wall, a centerpiece of former President Donald Trump’s administration.
The bill is not expected to pass in the Senate, and Biden has said he will veto it should it makes its way to his desk.
In a joint statement after the bill passed, House GOP leaders said Republicans “are taking action to address the chaos at our nation’s borders by delivering legislation that will support our Border Patrol agents, block the flow of fentanyl into our country and put an end to the Biden Border Crisis.”