The House Freedom Caucus Policy Chair, who also serves on the House Judiciary Committee and House Budget Committee, has been actively involved in various important committees in Congress. The congressman acknowledges the support being offered by governors across the country, with approximately 25 governors expressing their verbal support to Governor Abbott of Texas. This assistance from fellow governors is crucial as Texas is dealing with a challenging situation at its border. Governor DeSantis of Florida, in particular, is sending around 900 members of the National Guard and State Guard to provide aid.
The efforts of Governor Abbott and the Texas Legislature have shown promising results, as the number of daily border crossings has significantly decreased. Previously, there were thousands of individuals crossing the border per day, but now the numbers have dropped to around 200. However, the congressman believes that political motives may also be at play. There have been reports of agreements between President Biden's administration and Mexico to lower the numbers at the border, potentially for electoral reasons. This has led to a shift in the migration routes, with more individuals now moving towards California.
Turning to the proposed border deal measure, Senator Lankford of Oklahoma has stated that the bill's text will be released soon, giving Congress 72 hours to review it. The bill, estimated to be around 200 pages, appears to set a limit of around 5,000 daily border crossings. However, the congressman expresses reservations about the bill, emphasizing that it is unlikely to pass in the House with its current provisions. There is a clear difference in stance between the House and Senate, with Speaker Johnson firmly stating that the House will not accept a cap of 5,000 crossings per day.
The congressman asserts that the priority should be enforcing existing laws and holding the administration accountable, rather than relying on a new deal. He even suggests the possibility of impeaching Secretary Mayorkas on the House floor. The congressman highlights the need to detain individuals attempting to cross the border, rather than releasing them into the United States. The current system, which allows for the release of family units, contributes to issues such as sex trafficking and cartel empowerment.
In terms of his relationship with former President Trump, the congressman emphasizes that while he has supported many of Trump's policies, he does not engage in 'kiss-the-ring' politics. He states that he and the former president have not recently spoken but believes they will be fine, as they both have their own responsibilities. The congressman remains focused on advancing conservative policies and serving his constituents.
