During a recent episode of his podcast “WarRoom,” Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist under the Trump administration, interviewed Representative Boebert. In the conversation, Boebert shared her plans for addressing the concerning increase in illegal border crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to data from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), there were 3.2 million encounters in the 2023 fiscal year, which concluded in September. These encounters encompass various categories such as USBP Title 8 Apprehensions, Office of Field Operations (OFO) Title 8 Inadmissibles, and Title 42 Expulsions.
In the fiscal year of 2024, which began on October 1, 2023, there were a staggering 1,231,213 enforcement actions conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). These actions encompass a range of encounters by both the Office of Field Operations (OFO) and the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP).
During their conversation, Bannon expressed his admiration for Boebert’s approach to finding a solution to the issue at hand. He commended her for coming up with a policy solution that was direct and assertive, stating that it was a bold and proactive approach.
“We must reinstate the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy to address the current situation effectively. Additionally, implementing the catch and release approach is crucial. Furthermore, it is imperative to classify fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, given its devastating impact. Lastly, we must take decisive action against the cartels who exercise operational control over our southern border.”
In a text message to Newsweek, Bannon expressed his full support for the bill, but added that he believes it falls short of what is needed. He stated, “WarRoom fully supports the bill, but we think it should go further. We advocate for immediate national e-verify, along with criminal and civil penalties for companies and owners. Additionally, we believe this bill should address restrictions on legal immigration to protect American workers. However, we still recommend its immediate passage.”
E-Verify is a system that compares the information provided in an employee’s Form I-9 with government records. The Form I-9 serves the purpose of verifying the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired to work in the United States.
Boebert’s bill aims to put an end to the practice of catch and release, which refers to the release of migrants into the United States while they await immigration proceedings.
In June 2021, President Joe Biden put an end to the Remain in Mexico immigration policy, which was implemented during the Trump administration. Under this policy, asylum seekers were required to wait in Mexico until their cases could be processed in the United States.
The increase in illicit opioids, including fentanyl, entering our borders has become a growing concern. In the 2024 fiscal year, CBP seized 7,100 pounds of fentanyl. According to the CBP, a staggering 27,000 pounds of fentanyl was seized during the 2023 fiscal year.
In February, the Senate attempted to push forward a $118 billion bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package, but it was unsuccessful in a 50-49 vote. Before the vote, Biden expressed his support for the deal, and he reiterated his support during his State of the Union address on Thursday night.
“In November, my team engaged in substantial negotiations with a bipartisan group of Senators. The outcome was a bill that garnered bipartisan support and included the most stringent border security reforms ever witnessed in our nation,” stated Biden during his address.
The bipartisan agreement aims to recruit an additional 1,500 border security agents and officers, thereby strengthening border protection. It also includes the appointment of 100 more immigration judges to address the overwhelming backlog of 2 million cases. To expedite the resolution of these cases, new policies will be implemented, ensuring a timeframe of 6 months instead of the previous 6 years. Moreover, the agreement proposes the recruitment of 4,300 asylum officers, equipped with the necessary resources to efficiently handle asylum claims. Additionally, the deal includes the acquisition of 100 advanced drug detection machines to bolster efforts in preventing the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States.
According to the president, the bill will bring great benefits to America. He emphasized the importance of his Republican friends taking action and completing the bill for the sake of the American people.