South Texas Alliance of Cities endorses bipartisan border security bill

2 months ago 72

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The South Texas Alliance of Cities has officially endorsed the Bipartisan National Security Supplemental Appropriations Bill.

President Biden visited Brownsville to urge passage of the legislation on Thursday. Many of the STAC members met with him. The legislation has passed the Senate but House leaders say they will not allow it to come to the floor for a vote.

STAC comprises the mayors of San Antonio, Laredo, Corpus Christi and most of the larger cities in the Rio Grande Valley. In a statement about the presidents visit, STAC said:

“As members of the South Texas Alliance of Cities, we are sincerely grateful to President Biden for today’s visit to the Rio Grande Valley, where he acknowledged our concerns regarding border challenges impacting our communities. His responsiveness to our letter, which emphasized the urgent need for action, is greatly appreciated.

“Representing cities along the border, we understand the complexity of the issues facing our region. We firmly believe that addressing these challenges requires a pragmatic, bipartisan approach that considers the unique circumstances and viewpoints of our communities.

“President Biden’s visit underscores the critical need for practical and viable solutions to border-related issues. By actively engaging with local leaders and stakeholders, we can collaborate to develop policies that prioritize both security and compassion. A bipartisan response is crucial as we urgently strive to address the unprecedented flow of migrants into the United States. It is evident that the current situation is unsustainable, irrespective of political ideology, and affirmative measures must be taken to restore order and stability to the nation’s immigration system.”

STAC letter

STAC sent a letter about the Bipartisan National Security Supplemental Appropriations Bill to Senate and House leaders on Feb. 6. Here is a copy of the letter:

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries:

We, the members of the South Texas Alliance of Cities, strongly urge you to work together to pass the proposed bipartisan legislation to address the unprecedented flow of migrants into the United States. A bipartisan response is urgently needed. Regardless of ideology, the current situation is unsustainable and affirmative steps must be taken to begin to bring order and stability to the nation’s immigration system. Any legislation passed must include sufficient funding to effectively carry out basic humanitarian assistance, the efficient processing of asylum claims, and enforcement of immigration laws.

As Mayors of communities along and near the southern border, we experience firsthand the challenges created by the thousands of individuals coming to the U.S. in search of a better life. As Texans, we understand the complexities of the issue, the diversity of thought on possible solutions, and political expedience of immigration as a wedge issue. As leaders in local government, we are expected to take action to maintain the safety and well-being of our communities.

We respectfully request that you take swift action to pass the Senate’s promising bipartisan national security bill that will equip cities with necessary resources to provide a humane and orderly response to the migration challenge.

Sincerely,

Mayor Ron Nirenberg – City of San Antonio, Texas

Mayor John Cowen – City of Brownsville, Texas

Mayor Dr. Victor Treviño – City of Laredo, Texas

Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza – City of Mission, Texas

Mayor Ramiro Garza – City of Edinburg, Texas (Chair)

Mayor Norma Sepulveda – City of Harlingen, Texas

Mayor Javier Villalobos – City of McAllen, Texas

Mayor Adrian Gonzalez City of Weslaco, Texas

President Biden’s perspective

Although much of the $118.28 billion national security supplemental package is designed to help Ukraine and Israel, there are numerous provisions related to the U.S.-Mexico border. President Biden spoke about the legislation earlier this month. He pointed out it had the support of everyone from the Wall Street Journal to the Border Patrol to the United States Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s going to make the country safer, make the border more secure, treat people more humanely and fairly, and make legal immigration more efficient and consistent with the values of our nation and our international treaty obligations,” Biden said.

“It includes an additional 1,500 border agents and officers to secure the border — to physically secure it.

“In addition, 100 cutting-edge machines to detect and stop fentanyl at the Southwest Border. We have that capacity.

“An additional 100 additional immigration judges to help reduce the year-long asylum backlog. You show up for asylum and you get told a judge is supposed to talk to you. It takes a year to get that discussion going.

“This bill would also establish new, efficient, and fair process for the government to consider an asylum claim for those arriving at the border.

“Today, the process can take five to seven years, as you all know. They show up at the border, get a bracelet, told to be — come back when called, five to seven years from now, in the country. That’s too long, and it’s not rational.

“With the new policies in this bill and the additional 4,300 more asylum officers — who spend hours, I might add, with each immigrant to consider their claims — whether they qualify — we’ll be able to reduce that process to six months, not five to seven years.

“This bipartisan bill will also expedite work permits so those who are here and who qualify can begin work more quickly.

“That’s something that our governors, our mayors, and our business leaders have been asking me for and asking them for. All across the country, they’ve been asking for this.

“It’ll also create more opportunities for families to come together, for business to hire additional workers.

“And for the first time in 30 years, this bipartisan legislation increases the number of immigrant visas for people legally — legally able to come to this country through ports of entry.

“And it ensures that, for the first time, vulnerable, unaccompanied young children have legal representation at the border.

“This bill would also give me, as President, the emergency authority to temporarily shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed — the numbers they’re talking — over 5,000 people trying get in in one day.

“If the bill were law today, it would qualify to be shut down right now while we repair it.

“The bottom line is: This bipartisan bill is a win for America because it makes important fixes to our broken immigration system, and it’s the toughest, fairest law that’s ever been proposed relative to the border.”