South Miami-Dade News

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez voted to condemn Vice President Kamala Harris, referred to as the "Border Czar." The House Resolution passed with bipartisan support, 220-196, with six Democrats voting in favor.

"Even House Democrats know Vice President Harris is a total disaster," stated Congressman Gimenez. "The Biden-Harris Administration has been a total failure with its open border policies. Since 'Border Czar' Harris took over the crisis, there have been nearly 7.9 million illegal encounters at our southern border."

Below is a transcript of Congressman Gimenez’s statements:

"MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 1374. IN MARCH OF 2021, PRESIDENT BIDEN PROCLAIMED VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AS OUR NATION'S BORDER CZAR. YET OVER THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS, IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT WORK SHE'S DONE, IF ANY, TO SECURE OUR BORDERS. AS A MEMBER OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE, I TRAVELED TO THE DARIAN GAP IN PANAMA TO WITNESS THE MIGRANT CRISIS FIRSTHAND. I'VE ALSO BEEN TO OUR SOUTHERN BORDER. THIS IS A PICTURE OF ME AT THE DARIAN GAP. THOSE FOLKS THERE—THAT'S THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS COMING TO THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS TWO YEARS AFTER SHE WAS NAMED THE BORDER CZAR.

ACCORDING TO THE C.B.P., BEFORE THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, THERE WERE LESS THAN ONE MILLION ENCOUNTERS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER ANNUALLY. SINCE THE BORDER CZAR HARRIS HAS TAKEN OVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY EIGHT MILLION ENCOUNTERS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND TWO MILLION KNOWN GOTAWAYS. THAT'S A TOTAL OF ALMOST 10 MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE ENTERED OUR COUNTRY.

THE GROWING CRISIS HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR BORDER DISTRICTS LIKE MINE. ILLEGAL MIGRANT LANDINGS HAVE INCREASED IN OUR STATE, PARTICULARLY IN OUR BLOCK OFFED FLORIDA KEYS. WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ENCOUNTERS OF CHINESE AND OTHER NATIONALS.

OUR ADVERSARIES KNOW THAT THEY CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE AND EXPLOIT THE OPEN BORDER POLICIES OF THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION. F.B.I. DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY HAS TESTIFIED THAT SUSPECTED TERRORISTS HAVE CROSSED THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR—UNACCOUNTED FOR IN OUR COUNTRY.

THE BIDEN-HARRIS OPEN BORDER POLICIES ARE A RISK TO EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD LIVING IN AMERICA. VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS HAS PROVEN HERSELF INCAPABLE AS BORDER CZAR AND I KNOW THAT THE COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD FOUR MORE YEARS OF THESE DISASTROUS POLICIES.

I URGE PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION."

Congressman Carlos Giménez represents Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys. He is the only Cuban-born Member of the 118th Congress and served as the former Fire Chief of the City of Miami and Mayor of Miami-Dade County.