Feb 22 2023

Graham Applauds House Judiciary Republicans Holding Field Hearing At Southern Border

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) holding a field hearing at the U.S.-Mexico border in Yuma, Arizona.

“I applaud House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan for holding a field hearing in Yuma on the southern border crisis,” said Graham. “It is important to hear firsthand from those on the front lines who are being harmed by the disastrous immigration policies of the Biden Administration and from the men and women of Border Patrol who are working hard to safeguard the border.

“I simply cannot believe every House Judiciary Democrat is boycotting this important hearing,” said Graham. “Americans from every corner of our nation and every political persuasion are being harmed by the flood of fentanyl and other deadly drugs coming across our border. It is puzzling to me that House Judiciary Democrats would miss an opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand the impact that President Biden’s policies are having on our southern border.

“I visited Arizona twice at the beginning of President Biden’s term and met with our Border Patrol, immigration officials, and local community leaders,” continued Graham. “It was evident that President Biden was preparing to make colossal mistakes, setting in motion a border crisis and a humanitarian disaster.  Migrants knew that all they needed to do was turn themselves into the first American they saw and claim asylum. This abuse of the asylum system continues even today.

“I hope that Chairman Durbin will see the benefit of the hearing Chairman Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee are holding Thursday,” concluded Graham.  “A bipartisan border security visit with an opportunity to hear from these local communities would certainly be worthwhile. We must find solutions to this border crisis as we continue to live on borrowed time when it comes to risks and consequences of an unsecured border.”