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U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk Tours the Southwest Border with House Homeland Security Congressional Delegation

Washington, January 26, 2015 | Shawna Mercer (202-225-2931)
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) recently spent four days touring the Southwest border with fellow members of the House Homeland Security Committee. Led by Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, the delegation examined security along several major cities along the U.S. border, including San Diego, California, Tuscan and Sierra Vista, Arizona, and McAllen, Texas.
Washington D.C. (January 26, 2015) | U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) recently spent four days touring the Southwest border with fellow members of the House Homeland Security Committee. Led by Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, the delegation examined security along several major cities along the U.S. border, including San Diego, California, Tuscan and Sierra Vista, Arizona, and McAllen, Texas.

“My four day visit to the Southern border was an eye opening experience that further strengthened my belief that improving the physical security of our borders is paramount to stopping the flow of illegal immigration,” said Rep. Barry Loudermilk. “While border security should be the first and foremost priority of Congress, without major reforms of failed interior enforcement policies, we will never be able to completely curb the tide of illegal immigration.”

During the tour, members of the congressional delegation met with border patrol agents, the U.S. Coast Guard, and members of the local community to assess the evolving security threats along the nation’s southwest border. Specifically, members were given both aerial and ground tours of border security infrastructure, including security checkpoints, maritime port security operations, tunnel detection technology, and the use of unmanned aerial systems.

The delegation also explored opportunities to improve inter-governmental cooperation between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense in securing the U.S. border.

“Properly securing our borders from illegal immigration, drug and human trafficking, and potential terrorist activity is labor intensive and expensive, but it is a Constitutional role of our federal government,” said Rep. Barry Loudermilk.

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 399 – The Secure Our Borders First Act of 2015. If passed into law, this legislation would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to maintain operational control of the border and ensure the enforcement of pre-existing immigration laws.