05.12.21

Shelby Highlights Need for Rule of Law at Southern Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today delivered opening remarks during a full committee hearing focused on domestic violent extremism in the United States.  During the hearing, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the committee.

Vice Chairman Shelby stated, “Domestic violent extremists threaten the rule of law.  But so too does turning a blind eye to the flood of illegal immigration at our southern border. … I believe the vast majority of the American people believe in the rule of law, and they see it under attack.  I also believe that they want to see anyone who transgresses it to be held to account, regardless of race, political dogma, or other motivation. … Illegal immigration has long plagued this country.  It undermines American sovereignty and makes a mockery of our immigration laws. … The Biden Administration has blatantly ignored the will of the people to secure the border as expressed in duly enacted laws.  The rule of law must be restored for the good of this country.  It must govern whether we are talking about domestic violent extremism or illegal immigration.  It cannot come down in full force on one group of bad actors while giving a pass to others.  And officials tasked with enforcing it cannot pick and choose which laws they will follow based on political considerations.”

 

Vice Chairman Shelby’s full remarks, as prepared, are as follows:

 

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for calling today’s hearing.

 

“The rule of law – the very foundation upon which America was built – is paramount to our future as Americans and the future of our democracy.  Selective enforcement of our nation’s laws erodes that foundation.

 

“Today, we have before the committee two of our nation’s top law enforcement officials.  The two individuals most directly responsible for faithfully and fairly upholding the rule of law.

 

“Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Secretary – welcome.  You both know, as we do, that our country cannot afford to pick and choose the laws we enforce.  And yet, we watch that happen every day.

 

“Domestic violent extremists threaten the rule of law.  But so too does turning a blind eye to the flood of illegal immigration at our southern border.

 

“I’ll address each of these issues in turn from this perspective.

 

“First, violent extremism is a very serious topic.  Unfortunately, many of my Democratic colleagues have sought to make it about politics and race.  They would have the American people believe that all domestic violent extremists are far-right wing white supremacists, and that all Republicans are complicit in their actions.

 

“Of course, both are false.

 

“I believe the overwhelming majority of Americans watched the events of January 6th with shock and horror.

 

“I also believe that just as many watched the endless string of riots in cities across America last summer with the same emotions. 

 

“They saw Antifa thugs beat and intimidate innocent people.  They saw violent anarchists burn police cars and precincts and attack law enforcement officers.  They saw far-left extremists hijack Seattle and destroy the livelihoods of so many small business owners.  And they saw Black Lives Matter activists trash cities and loot businesses from coast to coast, night after night.

 

“None of these actions is excusable – not those of January 6th and not those of last summer.  They are all wrong.  They all violate the rule of law.

 

“Yet in the face of this utter contempt for the rule of law, so many have chosen to stand idly by, excusing one while condemning another.

 

“Such rationalization of inappropriate and even illegal behavior is dangerous, and I believe the American people see right through it.

 

“Moreover, it is dangerous for our leaders and law enforcement to focus on one threat to our nation while ignoring another.

 

“Such behavior raises questions as to whether justice is still blind and whether the rule of law still has meaning and force in America.

 

“Let me be clear: this isn’t about taking up for one side or the other; or about advocating for the enforcement of one law over another.

 

“I believe the vast majority of the American people believe in the rule of law, and they see it under attack.  I also believe that they want to see anyone who transgresses it to be held to account, regardless of race, political dogma, or other motivation.

 

“FBI Director Christopher Wray recently testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and stated, ‘We at the FBI don't tend to think of violent extremism in terms of right, left.  That's not a spectrum that we look at.’

 

“I wonder if that will be clear to those who watch today’s hearing.

 

“I hope we hear from each of our witnesses about their efforts to combat domestic violent extremism no matter where it falls on the political spectrum.

 

“I also hope we will hear, as I said, that there is a uniform approach to enforcing all the laws that are on the books.

 

“That includes our immigration laws.

 

“Illegal immigration has long plagued this country.  It undermines American sovereignty and makes a mockery of our immigration laws.

 

“The failure to secure our border has for decades allowed the cartels, drug smugglers, and human traffickers to continue their practices largely unabated.

 

“The Trump administration made a strong commitment to border security and achieved significant gains in restoring the rule of law along the Southern border.

 

“Yet President Biden, in one of his first acts in office, halted construction of the border wall that was ongoing and announced plans to unwind the immigration policies put in place by the previous Administration.

 

“Sections of border wall literally lay on the ground next to gaping holes in the existing barrier system.

 

“Gates in the wall that need repair remain wide open and require Border Patrol officers to stand guard when they are needed in other hot spots along the border.

 

“Essential technology such as sensors and cameras embedded in the border wall system have not been activated.

 

“All of this while record numbers of individuals pour across the southern border.

 

“The impact of these actions is not theoretical or abstract.  Our border officials and facilities are overwhelmed.  Tens of thousands of migrant children are in U.S. custody as we speak.

 

“Moreover, this Administration has restored catch and release – setting thousands of illegal crossers free in cities and towns across America – without consequence for breaking the law.

 

“And inexplicably, amid the ongoing crisis, the Justice Department recently rescinded restrictions on federal funding for sanctuary cities, which themselves embody contempt for the rule of law.

 

“This action can have no other effect than further fueling the crisis by enticing those who seek to come here illegally.

 

“More parents in desperate circumstances in Central American countries will pay human smugglers to drop their children off at the border because the prospect and promise of sanctuary just got brighter.

 

“The ultimate source of law in America – the Constitution – provides Congress with the power of the purse.

 

“Congress over the past few years has provided billions of dollars to the Department of Homeland Security for further construction of a border wall system, which includes functional gates and essential technology.

 

“Yet the Biden Administration has blatantly ignored the will of the people to secure the border as expressed in duly enacted laws.

 

“The rule of law must be restored for the good of this country.

 

“It must govern whether we are talking about domestic violent extremism or illegal immigration.

 

“It cannot come down in full force on one group of bad actors while giving a pass to others.  And officials tasked with enforcing it cannot pick and choose which laws they will follow based on political considerations.

 

“If those things happen, the rule of law will lose its meaning and force in America.  And we as a nation will be in serious trouble.

 

“I hope our witnesses today, two of the top law enforcement officials in the country, will make a serious and credible effort to restore the American people’s faith in the rule of the law.

 

“I look forward to exploring these issues further in the question and answer session.  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

 

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