House Republican leaders hailed the introduction of the Secure Our Border Act of 2023 on Tuesday.
"President [Joe] Biden created an unprecedented crisis at our borders, read a statement issued by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.
"On day one, Biden halted construction of the southern border wall, prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement from doing its job to keep our country safe, and took immediate steps to end the Migrant Protection Protocols and other successful enforcement policies. His open-border agenda predictably led to a national security and humanitarian crisis at America's borders that continues to this day."
They claimed Biden and congressional Democrats have ignored the problems at the border for the past two years.
"House Republicans have been hard at work listening, especially to Americans and communities affected, and crafting solutions, as promised in our Commitment to America," they said.
The bill "fulfills our promise to the American people to deliver solutions to a crisis that affects not just cities and states along the border, but every city and state across the country," they said. "With Title 42 ending on May 11, and a surge of illegal immigration already occurring, we cannot afford to be blind to the truth, as the Biden administration has been for over two years. Our border is not secure and we must act.
"House Republicans' Secure the Border Act would end the crisis and restore sanity, safety, and security at our borders."
Among other things, the bill mandates the resumption of the border wall construction. Work would begin within seven days of enactment of the proposed legislation.