Thune: We’re Facing a Humanitarian and Security Crisis at the Border

Pat Powers

Thune: We’re Facing a Humanitarian and Security Crisis at the Border

“[Countries] need to know who is coming into their country, and they need to be able to keep people who shouldn’t be entering the country — like criminals or drug traffickers — out.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the importance of border security as a means to end the humanitarian and security crisis at the southern border.

Excerpt from Thune’s speech below:

“Mr. President, it should go without saying that border security is a basic national security requirement.

“Countries have to secure their borders.

“They need to know who is coming into their country, and they need to be able to keep people who shouldn’t be entering the country — like criminals or drug traffickers — out.

“Making sure that our borders are secure is one of our most essential responsibilities as members of Congress.

“It’s a basic obligation, like making sure our military is capable of defending our country.

“But while border security is always a national security imperative, it’s particularly important right now, because we are facing a security and humanitarian crisis at our border.

“Over the past year, illegal border crossing apprehensions have shot up by more than 30 percent.

 

“An average of 60,000 individuals try to cross our southern border illegally each month.

“This represents a serious security concern.  

“Among those trying to cross our southern border are drug dealers, gang members, human traffickers, and other criminals.

“But this flood of attempted border crossings also represents a serious humanitarian concern.

“Individuals attempting the journey to come here illegally are vulnerable to exploitation, illness, and abuse.

“One out of every three women attempting the journey to the United States is sexually assaulted.

“A staggering 70 percent of individuals become victims of violence along their way.

“And illness and other medical issues are a serious problem.

“Fifty migrants a day are referred for medical care, and Customs and Border Protection rescues 4,300 people in distress every year.

“There is a direct way to stem this humanitarian crisis.

“And that is to promote legal immigration and discourage people from coming here illegally.

“And how do we discourage people from attempting to come here illegally?

“We enforce our immigration laws and prevent individuals from illegally crossing our borders.

“Mr. President, I’ve mentioned the dangerous individuals who can sneak across our porous borders, and the humanitarian crisis we face.

“But of course there are even more dangers posed by the weaknesses in our border, both around barriers and through our ports of entry — like the illegal drugs pouring into the country.

“Every week in this country, 300 Americans die from heroin.

“90 percent of the heroin supply — 90 percent — flows across our southern border.

“In 2017, opioids were involved in the deaths of almost 50,000 Americans.

“Roughly half or more of those deaths involved fentanyl.

“And a lot of that fentanyl is coming across our borders illegally.

“Federal agents have seen a 115 percent increase in the amount of fentanyl seized between ports of entry.

“One key part of addressing the opioid epidemic in our country is shutting down the flow of illegal drugs across our porous borders.

“Mr. President, Democrats used to understand the need for border security.”

###

88 thoughts on “Thune: We’re Facing a Humanitarian and Security Crisis at the Border”

  1. The vast majority of South Dakotans, including Republicans, simply do NOT support the shutting down of our government over this issue.

    1. I completely disagree. I haven’t seen that. Trump is winning on this.
      Democrats were in favor of it before they were against it.

      1. Exactly; Democrats should check out the video/audio of their precious Barack, Chuckie, and Nancy supporting stronger security and a wall. However, it has always been a Democrat’s prerogative to change their mind if it is politically expedient.

    2. Do you have any polling or anything at all to back up your statement? If so, please post a link, otherwise just make sure you put this as your opinion.

    3. Considering how many of us are employed in food production and processing, the absence of Dept of Ag inspectors is like the best Christmas present EVER.
      And so far I’ve yet to encounter a single person who thinks there’s anything wrong with having a shutdown.

  2. Speaking for the vast majority of South Dakotans is a supremely low ball uneducated thing to do when drugs and gang bangers and sex trafficking and terrorists are given a free pass by one party in Congress knowing the vast majority of South Dakotan’s despise everything just stated.
    Thank goodness Senator Thune and his party get it.

  4. For 2 years you controlled the White House, the House, and the Senate. You did absolutely nothing. Now you want to blame it on the democrats?

    Incredible.

    1. It’s called a filibuster. You need 60 votes in the senate. Go back to high school. My kids know this why don’t you?

      1. I anticipated you would say this: so why introduce and bray about it now, genius, when the odds are even worse?

        1. Oh, wait, I know. Its because the hill knows it wont pass but wants to play political bs and blame someone else while driving the debt into the stratosphere. Principles are what we demand others adhere to.

        2. Because genius it’s politids. Don’t act like you don’t understand the 60vote rule and pose a question you know the answer to.

          1. And dont act like you or your party are principled, because you clearly are not. Genius.

          2. And dont act like you or your party are principled, because you clearly are not. Genius. At least someone here admits it is nothing more than a wedge issue power grab. Too bad hundreds of thousands of federal employees have to pay for your games.

            1. Can’t say much for your ability to process basic principles of our government. Give mom her computer back and go back to your Legos. The adults are talking now.

              1. And someday you can learn to replace snark with substance instead of acting like a tweener reddit user. Keep trying.

                1. Plenty of substance here. I just can’t help you with basic comprehension. Try to keep up. I’m sure you mommy is still proud though.

      2. Funny- they’ve passed judges by 50- it’s not a filibuster when there hasn’t even been a process for the bill to come forward. You might want to educate yourself and your kids about the legislative process and when a filibuster may or may not occur.

        They know they don’t have the votes and won’t get the 7 that they need.

  5. Well, first of all, the current humanitarian crisis has all been caused by Trump. And if you are really concerned about security at the border, then one would advocate a smart border and not a medieval border wall…. But unfortunately, our President and our Senator apparently live in a “Dilly Dilly world,” where a wall is the only failed answer.

      1. Why did Obama build a wall around his home if physical barriers don’t work?
        Why did Hillary, Obama, Schumer & Biden all vote for a physical barrier prior?
        I’m curious.

        1. As far as Obama’s home, he doesn’t have to worry about tunneling and the wall around his home is also most likely monitored closely by watchmen, which is not realistic with a 3000 mile proposed wall.

          We need an electronic “wall,” not a physical wall for such a stretch of area….and due to proximity, an electronic “wall” alone would not adequately protect a President.

          And as far as the Hillary, Obama, Schumer, and Biden’s votes, well, they voted for a fence and a fence in areas which are hard to police due to ruggedness and as a last ditch effort, and for urban areas, inorder, to assurance the integrity of legitimate ports of entrance.

          But more importantly, why do we need a fiscal shutdown? Isn’t Mexico paying for it?

          1. Thx for making my point. It’s physical is some places, electronic and patrol.
            It’s all the above.

                1. Which one? The cement one or the steel one? The one Mexico pays for or the one he wants us to pay for. The shutdown that he told Schumer he was willing to accept responsiblity for, or the shutdown that he know tries to pen on the Democrats?

                    2. They supported it when it was the best option they were likely going to get when the House, Senate, & WH were all controlled by Republicans.

                      Circumstances have changed when American voters returned the House, the most representative body, to the hands of the Democrats. You could say that Americans sent a message they don’t want the wall & they want to keep the Affordable Care Act. Most Democrats ran and won on healthcare.

                      Your point about the vote in December is now moot.

    2. So you say the migrant caravan was caused by Trump? You say the drugs coming across the border are Trump’s fault? You are delusional. The crisis is caused by the failure of Congress to address the issues that have building for years, way before Trump was elected by the way, improve border security including a wall, pass laws to address our immigration system, listen to the border agents about how’ to fix the problems, support ICE, end sanctuary cities, end anchor babies, all things which would help. But the Dems and some GOP obstruct any attempt to address these issues. NOT Trump.

      1. I understand that the illegal alien mob (my term for the caravan) was organized by a liberal politician from a South American country (I can’t remember which one). That just goes to show that liberals the world over don’t believe in the law-they will subvert any law or norm they need to in the furtherance of their nefarious “ideals”.

        1. Some laws are unjust. You would’ve been against abolishing slavery, just cuz there’s a law on the books eh?

      2. Springer, you just don’t understand. Yes, all of those things are Trump’s fault. So is global warming. Even those who are still unable to find a job are unable because of Trump’s policies. When the market went up, that was because of what OBAMA did and left an economy set up for Trump (don’t you read the papers?). When the market went down, THAT was Trump’s fault. Rising interest rates are Trump’s fault. That murdered police officer by an illegal alien is Trump’s fault. Springer, I believe you need to educate yourself.

    3. But when the dems next seize power, they can just stop doing all of that. At least the wall will still be there to help the next adult administration recover from the next democrat decline.

      It will obviously be supplemented by technology, but the physical wall is a necessary part, in many places.

    4. How did Trump cause all of this? What is your argument? How is a border wall not an effective means to keep people out? Have you been down on the border and spoken to those protecting our border? I have watched interviews and read information from those at the border, and this would be an effective means of protecting our borders. However, I know it is popular to blame President Trump for everything and never look at how crappy a president Obummer was. Obama stunk on ice and supported illegal aliens and Iran more than the American citizens. Try placing the blame where it belongs, with Obama and the Democrats.

  6. Drugs, gang bangers, sex traffickers, and terrorists ARE NOT ILLEGALY CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER…. they are coming through already established ports of entry (airports, roads, sea ports) and overstaying visas. The wall is the stupidest, least effective thing Trump has proposed as president, and that is saying a lot

    1. Fact about fentanyl
      1300 lbs confiscated at boarder crossing last year
      332 lbs confiscated at unregulated crossings

      Both are a problem

      1. And most shark attacks happen within 200 yards of the beach. Are there more sharks close to the beach, compared to out in the ocean? Or is that just where the people find them?

        If we build a wall, and regulate more of the border, then we’ll find more of the drugs that are crossing there.

    2. Not true…I’ve lived in Arizona for the last 13 years…what you see and are told in the media is the total opposite of what is happening…Drugs…Heroin…Fentanyl…and others are poring over the boarder…and headed your way…look at the drug problems that are happening in South Dakota…and it is not Marijuana…Cheers!!!…

      1. Sounds like they need to invest in some drug dogs and have them sniff through every vehicle that passes through.

        1. They are going around the Port’s of entry through the desert…If you are for letting criminal gangs and drugs into the country just say so…it coming your way…Cheers!!!…

      2. Funny- if you had prevention programs that actually worked… you wouldn’t have as many drug problems in South Dakota. Stiff penalties might help, drug court is proving overwhelmingly successful, and tougher sentenacing for drug and gang relative activities might also be a deterrent.

    4. So, when these guys show up at the regulated boarder with the undocumented (isn’t that the new word for illegal?) drugs, the border agents tell them it’s OK to bring them in for a certain amount of time? They then overstay that limit? I’m confused–maybe some democrat can explain to me how the undocumented drugs come in through established ports and then overstay their visa?

    5. Are you seriously this delusional? You obviously hate President Trump and are willing to post the most idiotic things to push your viewpoint.

      AND, you have the audacity to use “Facts” as your moniker; there is no shame in liberals.

  7. The highschool citizenship test should be very easy. American Patriots support the wall….do you?

  10. “If there’s a concrete wall in front of you, go through it. Go over it. Go around it. But get to the other side of that wall.” Donald Trump giving a commencement address at Staten Island’s Wagner College.

  11. How’s it feel to just repeat the president’s lies, John? Need another visit to Moscow to get your next talking points?

    1. What are the lies you are alluding to? Are gang members, illegal drugs, and criminals, not to mention those who are simply not legally able to enter the U.S. not coming into the country?

      The Democrat party is more closely aligned with Communism than the Republican party. Pelosi and Schumer and their ilk hate America, and that is proven by about everything they do.

      1. Does anyone who disagrees with you hate America? Just trying to determine how far gone you are.

  12. On the issues of immigration, I’m certainly more moderate than many Republicans. However, I’m more hawkish than the President on border security because I think the debate about the wall (which I support as an important component) has distracted us from comprehensive discussion of border security, port security, etc. To some degree, I think the President’s rhetoric has contributed to this distraction.

    That said, I support the line the President has drawn in the sand for these reasons:

    1) The Democratic Leaders (and their supporters) obstinately opposing border security also support sanctuary cities (legal protections afforded illegal aliens not afforded US citizens) and elimination of Voter ID requirements. This is the existential threat to our democracy- a dilution of the confidence of average Americans elections are fair and honest.

    2) We will never have a discussion in this country on immigration reform (merit based allocation, expansion of temporary work visas, etc.) or how to rectify the problem of young children brought here illegally who grow up to be good citizens until we have border security. Just won’t happen.

    3) Ultimately, as a nation of good people wanting to be just, it is imperative we end the exploitation of latin workers (legal and illegal) by unscrupulous employers. This only happens when we have addressed #2. Currently, the bad employers can say “work for these wages under these conditions or I’ll call ICE on (you/your relatives/your friends). The parallel between what is occurring to these people is hauntingly similar to what former slaveowners did to the recently freed in the South post-Reconstruction.

    4) The Democrat Leaders (and those who support them) do not want a deal. Anyone who has half a brain knows when someone basically says they will do anything for the wall is the time to strike a deal. They have no desire to make a deal. In the past, they have cut deals which included the wall. Do we have a wall? Nope because they reneged. They will do it again.

    5) Because they have no desire to make a deal and haven’t honored past deals, go over their heads as the President did on TV. Do whatever you have to do to force them to recapitulate.

  13. This was from an article on NBC today. To help clear up the walls intended goals.

    “While the design currently being constructed was informed by what we learned in the prototypes, it does not replicate those designs,” said Waldman. “The steel bollard design is internally reinforced with materials that require time and multiple industrial tools to breach, thereby providing U.S. Border Patrol agents additional response time to affect a successful law enforcement resolution. In the event that one of the steel bollards becomes damaged, it is quick and cost-effective to repair.

    “The professionals on the border know that a wall system is intended not only to prevent entry, it is intended to defer and to increase the amount of time and effort it takes for one to enter so that we can respond with limited border patrol agents. Even a wall that is being breached is a valuable tool in that it allows us to respond to the attempted illegal entry.”

    In response to KPBS, CBP spokesman Ralph DeSio said the prototypes “were not and cannot be designed to be indestructible,” but were designed to “impede or deny efforts to scale, breach, or dig under such a barrier, giving agents time to respond.”

  14. We need to learn from history. Reagan gave amnesty to millions with the promise of future improved border security andimmigrstion reform….but it never happened. Immigration reform and border security/ wall need to come first.

  15. Thune: We’re Facing a Humanitarian and Security Crisis at the Border. Why ? Because we have an illegal immigration magnet of attraction. Incentivized social welfare along with misapplied birthright citizenship. Couple that with a lack of enforcement and we now have a humanitarian and security crisis. Enough AFP/Chamber song and dance. This game has continued since Reagan was last duped. Let #2 remain your title, not your actions.

  16. And why is it that the party that wants to keep the “status quo” in regards to illegal immigration, is the same one that created sanctuary cities, counties and states? And the same on that opposes asking the citizen question in the next census? And the same one that has extended voting rights to illegals in some jurisdictions? Simple-they see votes and that leads to political power. How many extra members of the US House does CA have today-5 or 6 maybe even 7, due to illegals. And all of them from the same party. Not a coincidence!

    1. That there is the true intention behind the Democrats. Dependence are reliable voters. It’s worked in CA. Dems have never wanted to fix immigration.

      1. The Republicans have never wanted to fix immigration either…….but then came Trump……they can’t ignore the issue now.

  17. The take-away from this discussion should be that the vast majority of South Dakotans support Trump and border control. It is especially good to see our senior senator on the Trump train. If we can’t get the whole package why not start prioritizing and start building what we can now in the sections that require the most resources to maintain order. The evidence is in that walls work BIG TIME.

    2. I certainly agree with you here Michael Held. Ever been to Worthington, MN for Turkey Days? Most diverse fun loving rural community I’ve ever been in and had a total blast attending all their events attended by an incredible racially diverse crowd. All getting along and loving life.
      Huron has that same potential once we accept the fact that not all of us eat, sleep, drink and live the same good way.

    1. OK, I watched the video. Then I looked at the story behind the video. If you can believe the people involved, the chief was facing disciplinary action due to his actions, even though he was testifying as a citizen. Nobody was claiming he was being disciplined because the city is a sanctuary city. Also, there seems to be a some guy named Ron Volesky who spearheaded a drive to put the mayor on a recall ballot but was unable to get the required signatures. But the video does not back up your contention that Huron is a sanctuary city. Point out the city law and then we can believe it.

  21. duggersd……why are you defending illegal immigration? So you believe the highly respected Chief of Police Doug Schmidt who was in the police department for 32 years was lying?

    1. Tara, there you go putting words into my typing. Apparently you have a hard time reading. Where in my post do I say I am defending illegal immigration? Where in my post do I say Schmidt was lying? You do have a history of this type of action which is why I usually ignore your posts. Suggestion: make sure the comments you are responding to actually represent reality.

      1. My fact finding does represent reality, you just don’t want to face it. When communities ignore illegal immigration, they are acting in the same manner as a sanctuary city by not enforcing immigration laws.

  23. Tara, you are putting something in there that does not exist. I read that article yesterday before responding to your post. In fact, that is one of the sources I used in responding to your post. It says NOTHING about Huron being a sanctuary city. It does say the mayor and some others thought the chief of police went over the line. It also says there is a controversy about illegal aliens. After reading it a second time, I found nothing in there about Huron being a sanctuary city. I am pretty sure any attorney would tear apart any testimony about what was going on in that argument 7 years ago if someone were trying to claim that Huron is a sanctuary city.

  24. Of course they are not going to call themselves a sanctuary cities. It has a bad connotation. The point is Huron and other cities in SD operate as sanctuary cities, they just don’t want to acknowledge that their is a problem with illegal immigration. That is why Donald Trump got elected President, because he is not afraid to tackle the problem. Trump doesn’t tote the establishment line the way SD does.

  25. During the 2016 legislative session, SBS1172 was brought forward. It was very similar to the law being protested in Texas, which would require police chiefs and sheriff to honor detainer requests from ICE. The bill didn’t get enough support to pass.
    KSFY News reached out to several lawmakers to talk about the future of immigration issues in the state, but our calls were not returned. Imagine that.

Comments are closed.