Secretary Nielsen tours southwest border, commits to building 150 miles of border wall

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen visited multiple locations along the nation’s southwest border on Thursday, meeting with elected officials, local residents and representatives of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. National Guard.

Nielsen was joined by U.S. Reps. Martha McSally (R-AZ) and David Schweikert (R-AZ) in visiting ports of entry and hosting roundtable discussions in Douglas and Nogales. During a news conference, Nielsen said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would use funding from fiscal years 2017 and 2018 to build 150 miles of border wall and to refurbish existing fencing.

“It’s a very large and dangerous mission we’re undertaking here to secure the border on behalf of the American people, and we couldn’t do it without their support,” Nielsen said, also reaffirming the Trump Administration’s “zero tolerance” policy to illegal border crossings.

McSally highlighted her recent efforts to modernize, upgrade and expand the Douglas Port of Entry, which was built in 1933. McSally also recently hosted a U.S. House Department of Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security hearing in Phoenix that focused on the opioid epidemic and the flow of illegal drugs across the border.

“Secretary Nielsen is well versed on the challenges we face along our southern border, but nothing provides a better understanding of our unique border challenges and opportunities than seeing them first-hand and talking to individuals on the ground,” McSally said. “I’ve fought in Congress to advance legislation to address staffing shortages at our ports of entry and increase funding for infrastructure and technology to secure the border and stop the flow of illicit contraband into our communities. This visit by the secretary helps convey why I’ve engaged in those efforts and demonstrates why more is needed. I appreciate her taking the time and look forward to working with her and other members of the administration as Congress tackles these issues in the coming weeks.”

An immigration reform bill introduced by McSally, the Securing America’s Future Act, is expected to be voted on this month. The bill would authorize construction of a border wall, add 5,000 CBP officers, authorize continued National Guard air support, and require full implementation of a biometric entry/exit system. The measure would also eliminate the visa lottery program, reduce immigration levels by about 25 percent per year, make more green cards available for skilled workers, and end the practice of “chain migration.”