Gov. Josh Shapiro has made the decision not to deploy the Pennsylvania National Guard to the Mexican border.
The administration responded to the legislation passed in the state Senate on Tuesday, stating that congressional immigration reform is the answer to addressing border security concerns.
“Governor Shapiro’s stance on the matter is crystal clear – our nation requires a secure border, and Congress must take action to implement comprehensive reform that will mend our flawed immigration system,” emphasized Manuel Bonder, the governor’s spokesperson. He further emphasized the need for leaders from both parties to rise to the occasion and provide tangible, all-encompassing solutions instead of regurgitating ineffective talking points and engaging in political posturing that has hindered us from achieving immigration reform for decades.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Greensburg, recently called on Attorney General Josh Shapiro to deploy troops to the border in order to assist the Texas National Guard in apprehending individuals who are entering the country unlawfully.
According to a press release by the Texas Department of Public Safety in February, Operation Lone Star has received support from fourteen states. Since its launch in 2021, the operation has resulted in over 498,300 apprehensions of individuals involved in illegal immigration and 39,200 criminal arrests.
Law enforcement officials have successfully brought felony charges in approximately 90% of these cases. Furthermore, they have managed to seize a staggering 458 million doses of fentanyl, a highly dangerous substance.
In just a short span of time, over 103,000 migrants have been relocated to various sanctuary cities across the United States. Among them, Philadelphia alone has welcomed approximately 3,400 migrants since November 2022.
According to Ward, our nation’s border being open poses a continuous threat to our country. Global adversaries take advantage of this vulnerability, undermining our national security. The consequences are far-reaching, impacting the safety of our families, homes, bank accounts, and overall way of life. The financial uncertainty and national security risk associated with an open border weaken us as a nation.
She highlighted the increasing number of opioid overdoses in the state and the allocation of taxpayer funds towards supporting safety net programs for undocumented immigrants.
Senators have recently disclosed plans to introduce new legislation that would impose additional fees on international wire transfers, specifically targeting migrants who send money to their home countries. The objective behind this move is to generate additional funds that can be used to provide property tax and rent rebates for seniors.
According to a recent report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Pennsylvania is home to approximately 272,000 undocumented immigrants out of the estimated 16.8 million living in the United States.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a report to Congress in 2021, highlighting the ongoing use of wire transfers by transnational criminal organizations and terrorist groups to launder money obtained from illicit activities such as drug and human trafficking. The report serves as a cautionary reminder of the persistent challenges posed by these criminal activities.
Approximately $63 billion, which accounts for 7.5% of the remittances sent to Mexico in 2023, is believed to be connected to organized crime.
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