SECURING OUR BORDERS
As a pilot in the Air National Guard, I have flown surveillance missions over the southwest border and have witnessed firsthand the challenges facing Customs and Border Patrol officers. Our porous borders have not only allowed and encouraged a humanitarian crisis, but also remain one of the largest security threats facing our nation. Without a secure border we cannot hope to stem the flow of drug traffickers and human traffickers that use our border to facilitate their vile crimes. One of my top priorities remains securing our border and I believe this can be accomplished in several ways including unmanned aerial patrols, the construction of a physical and virtual wall, and through enhanced resources for our border patrol agents.
I have supported President Trump’s efforts to secure our border, legislation to combat dangerous sanctuary cities, and Kate’s Law, which increases criminal penalties for individuals who are removed from our country and unlawfully reenter and commit crimes.
Once we have successfully secured our borders, I believe we must update our antiquated immigration system to better suit the needs of our 21st Century economy. Continued illegal immigration at our southern border undermines our system of legal immigration and we must fix this broken system to ensure it rewards those who wait their turn, come here legally, and bring the skills and expertise our economy needs. I will continue to fight in Congress for immigration policies that prioritize our national security and discourage illegal immigration in favor of following the rule of law.