The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security was published in the in the Senate section section on pages S3808-S3809 on Aug. 1.
The Department was built out of more than 20 agencies in 2002. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lower taxes and boosting federal efficiency, argued the Department is burdened with "unneeded bureaucracy" which could be handled by other departments or standalone operations.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 732--RECOGNIZING THE UNITED STATES BORDER PATROL FOR
DEPLOYING TO DEL RIO, TEXAS, ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2021, TO RESPOND TO THE
BORDER CRISIS
Mr. CRUZ submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
S. Res. 732
Whereas the Border Patrol operates within the Department of Homeland Security, and the mission of the Border Patrol is to protect the people of the United States, safeguard the borders of the United States, and enhance the economic prosperity of the United States;
Whereas the primary missions of Border Patrol agents are--
(1) to detect and prevent illegal entry and smuggling of aliens into the United States by land, sea, or air;
(2) to seek out and apprehend alien smugglers; and
(3) to enforce the criminal provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.);
Whereas, on his first day in office, President Biden reversed many policies put in place by the previous administration, including by halting construction of the border wall, which has--
(1) left the borders of the United States open and unsecured; and
(2) led to a self-inflicted border crisis that has left the Border Patrol unable to adequately respond to the surge of illegal immigrants crossing the southern border of the United States;
Whereas the crisis at the southern border of the United States has led to--
(1) since the date on which President Biden took office, a recordbreaking 3,271,585 encounters by Border Patrol agents of individuals attempting to cross such border illegally; and
(2) in May 2022, 239,416 encounters by Border Patrol agents of illegal immigrants attempting to cross such border, which is the highest number of recorded encounters in a single month;
Whereas, on September 19, 2021, an incident occurred in Del Rio, Texas, involving approximately 15,000 aliens from Haiti who were attempting to enter the United States illegally;
Whereas Border Patrol severely lacked resources and adequate personnel to handle the Haitian migrant crisis, and additional Border Patrol agents were deployed to the Del Rio Sector only 1 day before the Haitian migrant incident occurred;
Whereas, operating with almost no guidance, communication, or knowledge of operational goals, several Border Patrol agents were instructed by their superiors to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety to disperse a large crowd of Haitian aliens who were attempting to enter the United States without authorization or inspection;
Whereas photographs were taken of Border Patrol agents on horseback as they attempted to interdict individuals making illegal border crossings and engage numerous Haitian aliens;
Whereas President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas, and other Democrat politicians rushed to judgment and, without any investigation or corroborating evidence--
(1) accused the Border Patrol agents of using their horse tack to whip Haitian aliens; and
(2) denounced the agents;
Whereas 4 Border Patrol agents were placed on administrative leave as a result of the politicization of the incident and the rush to judgment by Biden administration officials;
Whereas, despite the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas declining to further pursue the matter, the Border Patrol has proposed disciplinary action against the 4 Border Patrol agents; and
Whereas the decision to discipline such Border Patrol agents appears to be politically motivated to provide cover for the rush to judgment and blatant mischaracterization by the Biden administration of the actions of the Border Patrol agents on September 19, 2021: Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes that there is an ongoing and growing crisis on the southern border of the United States;
(2) commends the Border Patrol agents who were deployed to the southern border to respond to the Haitian migrant crisis in Del Rio, Texas, on September 19, 2021, for their use of restraint in response to the crisis, despite a lack of clear rules of engagement; and
(3) concludes that the Department of Homeland Security should commend, rather than punish, the Border Patrol agents who answered the call of the United States to respond to such crisis.
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