On Tuesday, Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida filed legislation that would formalize the rights of states to protect the southern border as a constitutional right.
The publication known as the Daily Caller was the first to acquire a copy of the legislation, which is known as the State Border Security Act. The law expressly forbids federal agents from removing barbed wire or any other obstructions that state governments have erected within a 25-mile radius of the Mexican border. J.D. Vance, a Republican from Ohio, presented a piece of legislation in January, and this measure is a companion bill to that legislation in the House.
“A month ago, the Supreme Court granted the administration of Vice President Joe Biden the authority to do away with the border barrier that Texas had constructed in order to protect its residents from illegal immigrants. My proposal, along with Sen. Vance’s, will codify that our states have the right to safeguard their territory,” Gaetz said to the Caller prior to submitting the measure himself.
In light of the fact that the government of Vice President Joe Biden has failed to take any action, he stated, “Congress must give the states the authority to protect themselves against this unprecedented surge and invasion at our Southern Border.”
The Biden administration put an end to Title 42 on May 11, 2023. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was given the authority to swiftly remove migrants on the basis of public health concerns through the implementation of Title 42, which is a public health measure.
In the year 2021, border patrol officials encountered a record number of two million migrants along the border between the United States and Mexico. They were able to seize around 319,000 pounds of marijuana, over 190,000 pounds of methamphetamine, and over 97,000 pounds of cocaine during the fiscal year 2021. Additionally, they were able to seize counterfeit items worth $3.31 billion.
