America's southern borders are more unsafe than they have been in years, Rep. Ted Poe of Texas told
Newsmax TV.
In order to try to protect its citizens, the state of Texas has had to dig in to its own coffers to "ratchet up their defense of the international border using state officers, Texas Rangers and the Department of Public Safety" while the federal government "is still missing in action," Poe said during an appearance Tuesday on "America's Forum."
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"It's unbelievable," he said, "the cost, for the state of Texas and the other four border states when people come into the United States. The services, the apprehension, all of those things that cost the state, the local people a lot of money and the federal government as well.
"The word is out throughout the world that the border of the United States is open in the south. If you want to come into the United States, get to Mexico and come in to Texas or one of the other three states. The border patrol apprehended three Ukrainians that crossed the border. We're getting the good, the bad and the ugly, people who just want to work, with the criminal element and everybody else."
Poe, a former judge, said he's confident that a federal appeals court will agree with a south Texas federal judge who blocked President Barack Obama's
executive order granting amnesty to some 5 million illegal immigrants.
"The judge in Brownsville ruled correctly," said Poe. "The administration didn't allow public input on this new ruling of giving amnesty to 5 million people or more. The ruling is a temporary injunction. They've appealed to the Fifth Circuit and this circuit will rule with the judge in south Texas.
"There will be a trial of whether it should be a permanent injunction or not. The administration will lose this battle because it is unprecedented that a president will wave his magic wand and issue an edict of amnesty for five million people. It's improper, it violates the federal law and other laws that hasn't even gotten addressed yet."
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