McCaul Column
For far too long, our immigration system has been in shambles. Our borders are weak and are current laws are not being enforced. This has allowed drug smugglers, human traffickers, transnational gangs like MS-13, and terrorists to gain entry to our great state. As Texans, we have seen the results of these failed polices firsthand.
As the year winds down and we gather with family and friends for the holidays, it is important we take time to be thankful for what we have in this great country, and remind ourselves there are those who are not as fortunate to live in a nation built on the freedoms we hold so dear.
We live in an increasingly dangerous world that requires bold American leadership. Our nation's most effective tool for diplomacy has always been our resolute military serving as a deterrence. However, in recent years, we have witnessed our military readiness and capabilities decline beyond a state of alarm.
Let me be frank, one of the greatest threats to our homeland is a nuclear-armed Iran.
Just a few weeks ago, we witnessed Hurricane Harvey relentlessly batter the Gulf Coast and wreak havoc on communities that millions of Texans call home. After days of punishing rain and rising rivers from Corpus Christi to Rockport, Katy to Beaumont, and from Galveston to Houston, we all wondered when Harvey would finally go away.
Texans know it is long past time to secure our borders. Failed policies of the past have allowed millions of illegal immigrants, traffickers, and violent criminals to gain access to our great state and ultimately the United States.
As a father of five, I know that every parent's worst nightmare is their children receiving a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. Tragically, this nightmare turns into a reality for over 15,000 families each year. Growing up, my childhood best friend was part of this statistic; he sadly lost his life to the fight. It wasn't fair then and isn't fair now when a child's life is cut short.
Veterans are the backbone of our country; Texas alone is home to 1.6 million of our nation's finest men and women. Without those who have served, we would not be the great nation we are today - a nation that is a champion of democracy and freedom worldwide.
As Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I often lead a group of bipartisan members of Congress on Congressional Delegations (CODEL) overseas to study policies for increasing our homeland security.
As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, part of my work in Congress consists of developing a strong U.S. foreign policy targeted towards nurturing relationships with our key allies, countering adversaries seeking to undermine our national security, and working diligently to mitigate the threats we face abroad to prevent them from reaching our shores.