Washington, D.C., June 17, 2014 — Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) released a statement following the introduction of the Southwest Border Protection Act of 2014 Tuesday:  

“The drastic increase of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) being apprehended and detained by federal agents along our southwestern border is causing resources to be diverted away from other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) missions,” said Schweikert. “This diversion is stretching the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) thin and causing a troubling impact on our national security. That is unacceptable.”

“The Southwest Border Protection Act of 2014 would assist in refocusing our border security programs and secure DHS and CBP’s focus on illegal smuggling of drugs, individuals, and other transnational criminal activities, said Schweikert.”

The Southwest Border Protection Act calls for the deployment of at least 10,000 members of the U.S. National Guard at the request of any Governor of a State that shares a portion of the international border between the U.S. and Mexico. Guardsmen and women would serve as support for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations, and remain in place until we have obtained control of our southern border.  

The bill can be read online, here.

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Congressman David Schweikert sent  the President a letter Tuesday morning calling for the National Guard’s deployment to assist the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection management of border security. Today’s letter and bill come as a result of record numbers of unaccompanied alien children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

CONTACT: Maggie Zehring, (202) 680-9613; margaret.zehring@mail.house.gov