CULLMAN — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall spoke at the Cullman County Republican Women's Dinner on Tuesday, where he discussed the ongoing crisis at the southern border and conflict in Israel.
Marshall began by praising Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the resources he has been providing to protect border towns.
"I had the opportunity to meet with two different groups of people, Customs and Border Patrol, and y'all I can tell you they were a defeated bunch," Marshall said. "The other folks I met with, and we ought to be very proud of, were the individuals who work for the state of Texas in law enforcement."
Marshall praised Republican's efforts to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and referenced the record number of migrant encounters and individuals on the terrorist watch list showing up at the southern border.
"In September of this year, there has been a record month with almost 270,000 migrant encounters on our southern border," he said. "In fiscal year 2020, the last year of the Trump administration, we had three known encounters at the southern border with those on the terror watch list, and this year we have had over 170 and over 280 throughout the tenure of the Biden administration."
One of the ways Marshall hopes to fight back against illegal immigration is with the proposed Immigration Enforcement Partnership Act. This bill would force Homeland Security to fulfill their duties adequately within 30 days, or it would authorize the states to fulfill such duties, he said.
Marshall, along with all 26 other Republican AGs across the U.S., have recently sent a letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) urging him to bring this bill to the floor for a vote. Marshall asked the dinner crowd on Tuesday to reach out to their congressman about the bill.
"If the federal government won't do it, give us the ability to enforce this law," he said.
Marshall continued his speech by doubling down on his call to revoke visas for students who support Hamas and terror organizations.
During his most recent trip to Israel, Marshall visited the town of Sderot near the border with Gaza. He said one woman made the comment to him, "I just want to live free as a Jew in my country." However, since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, the once thriving town of 30,000 has been deserted.
"If you are on a student visa in our country and you want to stand on a college campus in support of Hamas — a terrorist group. We should have an answer for that, and that is to revoke your visa and send you home," Marshall said Tuesday. "There is no reason for you to be here. There is no reason for you to be able to use the facilities and the assets of our country and be able to support a terrorist organization, who not only is against Israel but is against the very republic we love dearly."
Marshall concluded his speech by reaffirming his support for Israel's defense.
"We need to be able to stand strong with our friends. They've stood strong with us," he said. "We know that they are principled and right in what they are attempting to do which is defend the sovereignty of their nation. Which we have recognized and endorsed, and we need to be able to continue to advocate on their behalf. We have a personal interest in what's going on in Israel and that we need to continue to advance moving forward."
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