rothfus' Statement on The Migrant Caravan in Central America

Press Release

Representative Keith Rothfus (PA-12) issued this statement regarding the migrant caravan traveling from Central America to the United States southern border. He serves on the Judiciary Committee and the Financial Services Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance.

"Every nation, including the United States, has a right to secure its borders and to control the admission of persons into its country. It is unacceptable that the United States would be exploited by any individual or group," said Congressman Rothfus. "I am a cosponsor of H.R. 4760, the Securing America's Future Act of 2018. This bill closes immigration loopholes, secures the border with 10,000 additional border patrol and CBP agents, physical barriers and technological assets, and provides a legal status for individuals who came to the U.S. as minors through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, H.R. 4760 did not pass the House last June, because Democrats voted en bloc to stop it. Meanwhile, cartels continue to smuggle illicit drugs into our nation, fueling issues like the opioid epidemic, and engage in human trafficking. These criminal activities then impact local communities by destroying lives and harming families. Securing our border must be a top priority. It is unfortunate that obstructionists in Congress chose to reject this legislation, preferring to push for alternatives that provide an all-out amnesty or weaker border controls. Such obstruction encourages those who would start or join groups such as the caravan marching through Mexico."

Representative Rothfus previously introduced H.R. 3526, the Border Protection Fund Act. This bill creates a new federal asset forfeiture fund targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations to be used for drug treatment programs and border security. Any unobligated balance of forfeited assets seized during the illicit trafficking of narcotics, persons, or weapons will be deposited into this new fund.

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