Skip to main content

Congressman Biggs' Statement on the August Border Apprehension Numbers

September 9, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released August numbers for illegal alien apprehensions at America's southern border. Approximately 50,000 apprehensions were made in August, and over 800,000 in the first 11 months of the fiscal year. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:

"The crisis at our southern border has shown significant signs of improvement due to the efforts of President Trump and our Border Patrol agents. Yet there are still too many illegal crossers and our system remains overwhelmed. Cartels continue to traffic thousands of aliens and smuggle tons of drugs. I applaud our Border Patrol agents' efforts to enforce our laws.

"Due to Congress's refusal to solve this crisis, President Trump and his administration enacted a series of steps to slow the record surge of illegal immigration, encouraging Mexico's assistance, wall construction, and policy changes to remove incentives for illegal entries. Despite unprecedented opposition from activist judges and Congressional Democrats, the President's actions have contributed to the decrease in illegal crossings. Congress is needed, however, to codify permanent deterrents and security measures that will eliminate illegal immigration to the United States. I call on my colleagues to join me in passing legislation to secure our border and give our law enforcement agents the resources they require to do their jobs."

Congressman Andy Biggs is a second-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.