Our porous southern border is blamed for the large number of undocumented immigrants in our country. About 1.6 million undocumented immigrants migrated to the U.S. in both 2020 and 2021. However, during the 10 previous years this number averaged only about 500,000 people – including those who decided to return to their native countries. In 2007, there were 12.2 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. and 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2017. It is estimated that in January of 2022 the illegal immigrant population stood at 11.35 million. Our border patrol has doubled in size since 2005 and quintupled in size since 1993. Some politicians have suggested building a wall along our Southern border at a cost of $45 billion including private land acquisitions. We already have nearly 700 miles of fencing along our northern and southern borders. However, critics say a wall would be a waste of money because walls can be breached and would have no effect on securing the 19,000 cargo containers crossing our borders each day. The Department of Homeland Security uses unattended ground sensors, truck-mounted and remote video surveillance systems, drones and fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to stem illegal immigration. Border security advocates claim increasing this type of technology would be more effective in securing our border than a wall.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.1707 - Border Visibility and Security Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Chip Roy (TX)

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