Gov. Kay Ivey (R-AL) on Monday joined 25 of her fellow Republican governors in requesting President Joe Biden meet with them regarding their concerns over the crisis at the southern border.
Among the governors’ list of grievances against the Biden administration’s laxed border policies are their concerns over the recent spike in illegal crossings. In the letter, the GOP governors point to the nearly 500% increase in border apprehensions from last year. They also cite the 9,700 apprehensions of illegal aliens who hold prior criminal convictions.
Additionally, the states’ chief executives say that the cartel and human traffickers are raking in $14 million in combined daily earnings from illegally bringing people across the border. The smuggling of narcotics into the interior of the United States is another issue that the governors took exception to.
According to the letter, more fentanyl has been seized this fiscal year year than the prior the three combined, totaling 10,500 pounds of the deadly opiate that government agents have captured.
The Alabama governor maintains that the crisis at the southern border poses a national security risk.
“There is a crisis at the southern border, plain and simple,” said Ivey. “My fellow governors and I have sent state resources, yet we have seen no action from the Biden-Harris Administration. National security is critical, and make no mistake, eight months of unenforced borders places us all at risk. It is past time we address the border crisis.”
There’s a crisis at the southern border, plain & simple. My fellow govs & I’ve sent state resources, yet we’ve seen no action from @POTUS & @VP. National security is critical. 8 months of unenforced borders places us all at risk. It’s past time we address this crisis. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/Vh2qupzOYi
— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) September 20, 2021
In the joint letter, the governors point to ongoing efforts Republican-led states have made in their attempt to assist overwhelmed border security operations.
The letter reads in part, “Despite the lack of federal action to reverse the crisis, many states have stepped up and committed unprecedented resources to support the security of our national border. We have heard directly from our constituents about the damage this crisis has caused in our states, and it is our duty as elected officials to act swiftly to protect our communities, as it is yours.”
The governors call upon Biden to use his constitutional authority to address the crisis and “restore integrity” to the nation’s embattled border.
“While governors are doing what we can, our Constitution requires that the President must faithfully execute the immigration laws passed by Congress,” the governors add. “Not only has the federal government created a crisis, it has left our states to deal with challenges that only the federal government has a duty to solve. Our immigration system may be complicated and complex, but the solution to ending the border crisis is simple and straightforward. As President, you have the ability to take action to protect America, restore security, and end the crisis now.”
The letter concludes, “Due to the emergent crisis, we respectfully request a meeting as soon as your schedule allows within 15 days. While we know your responsibilities as Commander in Chief are substantial, ending the national crisis and securing our states must be a priority.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
