WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Higgins recently returned from a congressional trip to the United States’ southern border with colleagues from the House Homeland Security Committee and a bipartisan anti-terrorism task force.
The trip provided Members of Congress with an overview of challenges facing border security and the issues that impact communities along the 1,954-mile border. Officials from the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security briefed the group on evolving national security threats, technology currently deployed at the border, and best practices to secure our land and sea borders.
“The threats to America are menacing and real,” said Rep. Clay Higgins. “Law enforcement officers in border communities are waging a fierce battle to secure our border and enforce the law. They are experts in border security because they are on the ground, living the battle every single day.”
During the trip, Congressman Higgins and his colleagues made stops in San Diego, CA; Ft Huachuca, AZ; El Paso, TX; and McAllen, TX. The group was briefed on counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, and counter-human trafficking efforts at each site.
Congressman Higgins was able to survey border infrastructure, mobile surveillance technology, and border patrol stations at each site.
Congressman Higgins was appointed to the anti-terrorism Task Force in February. The Task Force is charged with examining pathways by which extremists might infiltrate the homeland and resolving potential weaknesses in these systems.
“Our mission is to eliminate terrorist entry and keep America safe,” said Rep. Higgins. “Securing America’s southern border is critically important to that mission. We’re listening to the boots on the ground and working to supply them with the resources they need.”
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See additional photos from the trip here: /media/photo-galleries/congressman-higgins-tours-us-mexico-border.
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