WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07), with Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05), Congressman Ronny L. Jackson (TX-13) and Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36), sent a letter to President Biden demanding that he take decisive actions against the Mexican government and other Central American governments who are contributing to chaos on the southern border.

The letter requests that the Biden administration reinstate the successful Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy, and put economic pressure on other governments in the region who are allowing millions of migrants to pass through their territory on their way to the United States. The lawmakers also pressed President Biden to halt the issuance of visas to nationals of countries encouraging illegal migration and consider rescinding “temporary protected status” for nationals of illegal migrant source countries.

“Recent news reports indicate that yet another massive group of illegal migrants – as many as 100,000 – are approaching the United States. Central American governments appear to be actively participating in this massive, transnational human trafficking operation by facilitating the passage of migrants through their territory. In order to avert this catastrophe, [President Biden] must take swift and decisive actions to put pressure on the government of Mexico and those in Central American nations to stop them from contributing to this worsening disaster,” said Rep. Tiffany.

Read the full letter here or below:

Mr. President,

Recent news reports indicate that yet another massive group of illegal migrants – as many as 100,000 – are approaching the United States.  Even more alarming, Central American governments appear to be actively participating in this massive, transnational human trafficking operation by facilitating the passage of migrants through their territory. The situation is so out of control that your own Homeland Security Department was reportedly bracing for 400,000 migrants to overwhelm our southern border in October alone.  In order to avert this catastrophe, you must take swift and decisive actions to put pressure on the government of Mexico and those in Central American nations to stop them from contributing to this worsening disaster.

One key reason that illegal border crossings slowed so significantly during the last administration was the highly successful “Remain in Mexico” policy, which forced Mexico – under the threat of steep and escalating tariffs  – to stop waving tens of thousands of illegal economic migrants masquerading as asylum seekers into the United States. You should renew and expand this threat to include Central American governments who are allowing and encouraging migrants to continue north.

You must also exercise the broad authority you have under Title 8, U.S. Code 1182(f), which allows you to suspend the entry of any foreigner you deem “detrimental to the interests of the United States,” for any period you may “deem necessary…[or] appropriate.” If corrupt regional governments insist on aiding the flow of illegal immigrants into our country, then the United States should halt the issuance of visas to nationals of these countries. Doing so would close off the privilege of U.S. travel to politically influential elites and their families, while also restricting the entry of foreign workers – whose remittances represent a massive contribution to GDP in many of these nations.  

Finally, you should consider rescinding the so-called “Temporary Protected Status” that has been afforded to nationals of illegal migrant source countries, as well as countries whose leaders continue to facilitate or stand idly by as millions of migrants transit through their territory en route to the United States. Citizens of several Latin American and Caribbean countries currently enjoy this “temporary” legal status – which in some cases was granted as long ago as 1999.   If their home-country governments continue to aid, abet or acquiesce to this unauthorized mass migration into the United States, you should take steps to revoke this status. 

The carrots are not working, Mr. President. It is time to use the sticks.

Sincerely,
Congressman Tom Tiffany

Congressman Mo Brooks
Congressman Ronny L. Jackson
Congressman Brian Babin

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