Memphis Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) criticized the Biden administration and congressional Democrats for their open-border policies that prioritize illegal immigrants over law-abiding citizens and undermine the rule of law.

Last week, House Republicans initiated impeachment proceedings against Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas because he fails to believe in securing the homeland. The numbers speak for themselves: over 8.5 million illegal immigrants, including 1.7 million known "gotaways," tens of thousands of pounds of lethal fentanyl smuggled into the country, and hundreds of individuals on the terror watchlist apprehended at the border. These statistics alone justify the Secretary's removal from office.

However, the harm inflicted by the current administration's open-border policies extends beyond these numbers and threatens the foundation of our democracy: the rule of law. The Biden administration has consistently made illegal legal and prioritized lawbreakers over law-abiding Americans.

Under President Biden, illegally entering the country is no longer considered a crime. Secretary Mayorkas admitted that over 85 percent of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border are released into the country. Despite the significant influx of migrants, the Biden administration sued states like Arizona and Texas when they constructed their own barriers along the Southern border. Border agents are not reinforcing security measures; instead, they are removing razor wire fences to facilitate the entry of illegal immigrants.

Once migrants illegally cross the border, the Biden administration not only resettles them but also uses taxpayer dollars to cover their healthcare expenses. In fiscal year 2022, taxpayers shouldered $94.3 million worth of medical expenses for detained migrants. Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's health care arm budgeted over $74 million in fiscal year 2021 for the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist with outside referrals and medical claims processing, while more than 1 million veterans are still waiting for their claims to be processed.

The repercussions of the record influx of illegal immigration are evident in New York City, where high schools are being shut down, and students are sent back to remote learning to accommodate illegal immigrants in school facilities. This approach is highly controversial and has raised concerns about the prioritization of illegal immigrants over American students.

Despite the clear negative consequences of these open-border policies, Democratic colleagues have consistently supported the administration's approach. They have also refused to hold a vote on H.R. 2, the House Republicans' Secure the Border Act, which could help alleviate the crisis.

Senator Blackburn questions the motivations behind the Democrats' support for illegal entry and their continuous efforts to make illegal legal. She challenges them on their preference for those who break our laws and enter the country illegally over hardworking, tax-paying American citizens. Additionally, she questions the compassion in taking actions that embolden cartels and human traffickers, who engage in modern-day slavery.

The article highlights Senator Blackburn's concerns about the Biden administration's open-border policies and the impact they have on the rule of law, American citizens, and the fight against illegal immigration.