Jackson Lee: “If enacted, the law would prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to construct the border wall. Moreover, it is a comprehensive piece of legislation that ensures that any wall that is build is paid for by Mexico; directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to make occur certain procedures that improve training of agents of the United States Custom and Border Patrol; increases the number of immigration judges; and, it directs the Secretary of DHS to take all such measures to ensure that refugees at the southern border are given humanitarian assistance.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, and senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget, released this statement following her introduction of the Protect American Taxpayers and Secure Border Act:

“For too long, some in our country have been singularly obsessed with building a wall along our southern border. Unfortunately, the ringleader of these implacable individuals now occupies the highest office in our government. All of them, however, refuse to acknowledge that a border wall is highly ineffective and prohibitively expensive. So committed are they to their delusion, that the president is willing to shut down the government of the United States in pursuit of this folly. Realistic cost estimates of such a wall easily surpass tens of billions of dollars. This is an immense waste of taxpayer money that could be used to make the investments needed to make America better.

“This is why, as the current Continuing Resolution is ending and a new one will eventually commence, I introduced H.R. 7332, the Protect American Taxpayers and Secure Border Act.’ If enacted, the law would prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to construct the border wall. Moreover, it is a comprehensive piece of legislation that ensures that any wall that is build is paid for by Mexico; directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to make occur certain procedures that improve training of agents of the United States Custom and Border Patrol; increases the number of immigration judges; and, it directs the Secretary of DHS to take all such measures to ensure that refugees at the southern border are given humanitarian assistance.

“The modern reality of what is occurring at our southern border is shocking, and demands comprehensive legislation. This is why the Protect American Taxpayers and Secure Border Act is a necessary piece of legislation and I urge my colleagues to support it.”