Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The fundamental role of any government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. However, President Joe Biden has significantly neglected this responsibility, leading to an overwhelming influx of un vetted illegal immigrants and dangerous cartels operating along the U.S.-Mexico border.
While Washington policymakers debate the situation, Texas is left to deal with the repercussions. The state has expended billions on Operation Lone Star, striving to mitigate the chaos created in part by federal policy failures.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Governor Greg Abbott for stepping in where the Biden administration has failed. However, it is time for the federal government to reimburse Texas taxpayers for their sacrifices in maintaining security.
From the initiation of his presidency, Biden dismantled effective immigration policies established by the previous administration. He terminated former President Donald Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy, halted the construction of the border wall, and ended Title 42—the COVID-era measure that once offered a crucial layer of border protection.
The consequences of Biden’s policies have manifested in a border crisis that dwarfs illegal migration statistics from previous decades. During Biden’s tenure, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported encounters with over 10 million illegal immigrants, while more than 1.7 million migrants managed to evade capture and currently roam within the United States.
Sadly, this crisis contributes to the devastating opioid epidemic across the nation. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have succumbed to overdoses, particularly from synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which are manufactured using chemicals sourced from China and trafficked through the open border. Innocent victims like Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray have suffered as a result of the violent actions of illegal migrant criminals.
Despite the resources available to the Biden administration, the president’s response has been one of inaction, with him declaring that little more could be done. His Homeland Security secretary, however, has insisted to the public that the border remains secure. Yet, overwhelming evidence indicates that the United States borders are alarmingly unsecured.
This crisis has inevitably hit Texas the hardest, given that the state shares the longest border with Mexico. With the president seemingly absent during this emergency, Governor Abbott has had to step in to protect the state’s residents.
Under Operation Lone Star, Texas law enforcement has apprehended over half a million illegal immigrants, including more than 50,000 for criminal activities. The state has constructed more than 240 miles of border barriers, intercepted the equivalent of more than half a billion lethal doses of fentanyl, and reduced illegal immigration into Texas by 87%, as reported by Governor Abbott. Nonetheless, these proactive measures have cost Texas upwards of 11 billion dollars, a substantial burden for citizens to bear while the federal government shirks its responsibilities.
If there remains any doubt about the strife caused by Biden’s border policies, take into account the swift success that accompanied President Trump’s earlier immigration strategies. Even before he was inaugurated, the flow of migrants diminished significantly.
During the first two weeks of 2025, CBP recorded encounters nearly 50% lower than during the same period in 2021, the inception of the Biden administration. Within Trump’s first 100 days, daily border encounters plummeted by an impressive 95%.
This remarkable turnaround occurred as a direct result of Trump’s decisive actions and the implementation of effective policies by his administration. Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border from day one, eliminated the catch-and-release strategy, and reinstated the successful Remain in Mexico policy. ICE arrests surged by over 600%, and arrests of criminal migrants doubled.
The shift from the chaos of the past four years under Biden’s administration to the structured approach under Trump was both welcome and effective. However, the financial toll suffered by Texas and the sacrifices made in the interest of national security must be addressed and repaid.
The pressure now rests on Congress to rectify the crisis triggered by the Biden administration. For four years, Texas has faced the ramifications of open borders, a surge in crime, and the ravages of fentanyl, costing the state billions to compensate for the lack of federal action.
In late January, Governor Abbott formally requested Congress reimburse Texas for the 11.1 billion dollars spent by taxpayers. I joined forces with President Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Speaker Mike Johnson, and Texas Republicans in the House, to ensure Congress addresses this request through the reconciliation bill, often dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill.
As the largest Republican delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas Republicans hold significant influence. Thus, the speaker faced pressure to incorporate provisions that reimburse Texas in the legislation, which initially lacked these crucial elements.
However, thanks to the collaborative efforts with Congressman Chip Roy, reimbursement measures were integrated during the amendment process, enabling the House to pass these provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill.
The next step is to navigate these reimbursement measures through the Senate. I will continue to collaborate with Leader Thune, Governor Abbott, and President Trump to ensure that our provisions are adequately represented in the final bill sent to the president.
While the journey to securing this reimbursement may be complex, Texans are resilient, and we are accustomed to persevering against the odds. With Biden abdicating his duties as commander in chief at the southern border, it falls upon Congress to reverse the ongoing crisis and ensure that Texas taxpayers receive the compensation they deserve.
