Members of the Marshall County legislative delegation recently attended a border school in McAllen, Texas, to learn more about the illegal immigration crisis that continues to hit home in Alabama.
State Sen. Wes Kitchens (R-Arab) and State Reps. Brock Colvin (R-Albertville) and Jeana Ross (R-Arab) visited the border town along with Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims, where sheriffs and legislators from 20 other states took part in an "intensive, multi-day program aimed at addressing the pressing issues at the southern border."
There, they heard from Texas Border Patrol agents and other speakers about the efforts to stem the tide of illegal entries into the U.S. A key concern was how sponsors are helping facilitate migrants into America via various Biden administration programs who are often then exploited through labor or other trafficking.
Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth recently sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Defense Alejandro Mayorkas requesting a list of names for the sponsors helping bring a flood of Haitian immigrants into Alabama.
"Many charitable organizations, funded by the federal government, house immigrants temporarily as they await transportation to their final destinations," a Marshall County legislative office press release stated. "In one poignant moment, the delegation met a family with a newborn who had crossed the border just days before. The family, destined for New Orleans, had no knowledge of their sponsor beyond its name."
The delegation also toured security measures on the border, including areas along the Rio Grande and the border wall barrier.
"Having the opportunity to witness this crisis firsthand was remarkable and something my words or pictures simply cannot do justice," Kitchens said. "From seeing an eight-day-old baby whose mother crossed the border and gave birth to a room full of people from numerous countries waiting for transportation, this is an issue that must be addressed. We saw how certain non-governmental organizations are exploiting this crisis for profit. I remain committed to working with my colleagues across the state to combat the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration that have created this crisis."
Colvin, who has been outspoken about the impacts of illegal immigration on his hometown of Albertville, said the situation at the board was worse than he imagined.
"From the amount of cartel and terrorist members that slip into our country to the fact that this is a humanitarian crisis with women and children being raped along the way," he said. "I met a mother who had just given birth after making the journey from Honduras at nine months pregnant. In that same facility, I saw a man wearing an ankle monitor, previously arrested yet still allowed into our country. The Biden-Harris Administration has failed us. If illegal immigration is a concern for you, a change in the federal administration is needed when we vote in November."
Ross emphasized the strain on local and state resources, saying, "This trip to the border was an opportunity to learn firsthand some strategies and potential legislation to address the fallout from mass immigration. Our local and state resources are being pushed to the breaking point, and I am committed to working with law enforcement, legislators, and officials to find solutions to this critical issue."
Sheriff Phil Sims said the impact of illegal immigration is becoming more widespread, affecting states well away from the border, like Alabama,
"We saw firsthand how illegal immigration is affecting not only border states but counties like ours," he said. "The policies of the Biden-Harris administration have failed, and now every state in the union is a border state. As your Sheriff, I am committed to using every resource to address what is happening in our area. Special thanks to Senator Kitchens, Representatives Ross and Colvin for attending this event."
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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