West Central PA News

The Pennsylvania Senate has passed a resolution expressing support for a more secure southern border and calling for action to address the ongoing border crisis. The resolution, sponsored by Senate Republican leaders, highlights the strain that illegal immigration is placing on states across the nation and emphasizes the importance of states' rights to protect their citizens.

The resolution, known as Senate Resolution 234, was authored by Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Majority Leader Joe Pittman, and Majority Whip Ryan P. Aument. It specifically voices support for the actions taken by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to secure the border in the face of federal inaction by the Biden Administration.

In addition to urging the Biden Administration to stop impeding Texas's efforts to limit illegal immigration, the resolution also encourages Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to join the many other governors from across the country who have expressed their support for Governor Abbott.

The rising number of illegal immigrants in the country is a cause for concern. According to the U.S. Center for Immigration Services, the illegal immigrant population grew to 12.8 million by October 2023, an increase of 2.6 million since President Biden took office in January 2021. This growth can be attributed to the executive orders issued by President Biden, which diverted financial resources from the border, suspended deportations, and ended the successful "Remain in Mexico" policy.

Senator Kim Ward, one of the sponsors of the resolution, expressed her firsthand experience of the border crisis, saying, "I went to the border last March and it was a scary experience. I witnessed people from all over the world not just Mexico crossing the border with the help of the cartels. Since President Biden refuses to act, I am calling on Gov. Shapiro to support the Governor of Texas by allowing states to handle the border crisis themselves to keep our country secure and provide the necessary relief to the many blue city mayors calling for help."

Majority Leader Joe Pittman emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating, "One of the most fundamental issues of our time is protecting and securing our borders, and the sense of the Pennsylvania Senate must be expressed on this issue of such gravity. The Biden Administration's failed immigration policies have left the United States of America in a vulnerable position. Ensuring public safety and national security are central tenets of what our government must provide. The lawlessness and chaos at our nation's southern border is no doubt a crisis which must be rectified."

Senator Scott Martin highlighted the consequences of illegal immigration, saying, "Illegal immigration not only creates a strain on our nation's resources, but it also presents a serious threat to the safety of our citizens. The Biden Administration's disastrous policies have created a greater incidence of human trafficking, more guns and drugs smuggled across our border, and a whole host of other dangers. It is far past time for the federal government to provide the resources necessary to secure the border instead of wasting time fighting against states that are trying to do the right thing."

Senator Ryan P. Aument echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for better solutions, stating, "President Biden's destructive border policies have not and will not work. We must secure the border and we must find better solutions."

The passage of this resolution by the Pennsylvania Senate demonstrates the state's commitment to addressing the border crisis and protecting the safety and security of its citizens. By expressing support for Governor Abbott's efforts in Texas, the resolution sends a clear message to the Biden Administration that action is needed to secure the southern border and prevent further strain on states' resources.

For more information, please contact:

- Erica Clayton Wright (Senator Kim Ward)

- Kate Eckhart Flessner (Senator Joe Pittman)

- Jason Thompson (Senator Scott Martin)

- Stephanie Applegate (Senator Ryan P. Aument)