WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the trip he is leading with Sen. Cruz to the Texas border and the Biden Administration’s refusal to take action on illegal immigration. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.

“Later this week, I will be traveling back home to the Rio Grande Valley along with a number of my Republican colleagues so that they too can learn from the true experts about the border crisis. Senator Cruz and I are leading a visit to the Rio Grande Valley to receive an update on the current state of circumstances at the border.”

“Since President Biden took office, the Border Patrol has encountered nearly three million – three million – people along the southwest border. That’s almost an incomprehensible figure.”

“On average, more than 185,000 migrants cross our southern border every month. That’s seven-and-a-half times more than we were just seeing a few years ago.”

“President Biden’s policies are the driving force for this crisis.”

“This Administration has failed to prepare for what I think most people could have predicted given the green light that the Biden Administration has posted at the border, welcoming anybody and everybody who wants to come to the United States from anywhere in the world without complying with our immigration laws.”

“Last year alone, 108,000 Americans died of drug overdoses. Virtually all of those [drugs] came across the southern border.”

“These men and women, who would normally be out on the front lines stopping dangerous people and drugs from sneaking across the border, they’re filling out paperwork, they’re watching unaccompanied children, and they’re transporting migrants. This is part of the cartel’s plan.” 

“Lives are actually on the line. President Biden has talked about the need to treat immigrants humanely. I agree. This isn’t about treating them inhumanely, but 53 migrants dying in the back of a tractor-trailer rig in 100-degree Texas temperature is not humane either.”

“Migrants are dying, drugs are pouring into our country, and all the while these criminal organizations are getting richer and richer. I don’t know how President Biden and Vice President Harris look in the mirror knowing that this is happening on their watch. I do know that President Biden and Vice President Harris have not been down to the border and talked to the same experts that I’ve learned from over the years.”

“We’ve even seen some in the Administration villainize the dedicated law enforcement officers who are trying to keep our communities and our country safe.”

“I look forward to seeing some of these folks later this week and introducing them to a number of our Senate colleagues.”