Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven issued a statement today following President Biden's announcement of new executive actions to create additional exceptions to U.S. immigration law. The senator criticized the administration's approach, arguing it exacerbates existing border security issues.

"Instead of focusing on fixing the serious security issues affecting our border, President Biden is again advancing policies that circumvent enforcement of the law," Hoeven stated. "We need real border security to end the illegal immigration crisis, not more election-year open border policies."

According to recent data, illegal encounters at the southern border have continued to increase, rising from 1.7 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 to over 2.4 million in FY2023. More than 1.5 million illegal encounters have already occurred in FY2024. Additionally, 169 individuals on the terror watchlist were apprehended attempting to cross the southern border illegally in FY2023, with 80 such apprehensions so far in FY2024.

Hoeven has actively worked to address what he describes as an illegal immigration crisis and has pushed back against what he terms President Biden’s open border policies. Specifically, he is pressing the administration for stronger measures.

The senator has met with North Dakota National Guard members in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and El Paso, Texas, highlighting their support missions for Customs and Border Protection operations. Hoeven has also reviewed border operations in the Rio Grande Valley and Brownsville, Texas. Furthermore, he traveled with a bipartisan congressional delegation to Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and Guatemala to discuss collaboration efforts aimed at stopping illegal immigration and preventing human and drug trafficking.

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