Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) today signed on to a letter to President Obama asking him to address the current national security and humanitarian crisis on the Texas border.

In the letter, which was signed by the entire Texas Republican delegation, the members wrote that only the president has the authority to stop the surge of illegal immigration by minors by enforcing current immigration laws.

The members asked President Obama to take five actions: suspend his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order, end the policy that gives convicted criminal immigrants a free pass into the U.S., improve cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, crack down on immigration fraud and expedite the processing and removal illegal immigrants who are apprehended on the border.

“Your administration has used existing laws as an excuse for your failure to end the national security and humanitarian crisis on our southern border,” the members wrote. “However, the majority of immigrants apprehended at the border during this crisis can be legally repatriated immediately. Instead, you have permitted almost all to remain in the United States, further encouraging illegal immigration.”

Taking the five actions described in the letter will “save lives and discourage those you have enticed to enter illegally through your current policies,” the members concluded.

Burgess has been active on the issue of unaccompanied children on the Texas border. He traveled to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio to tour the facility holding the recent immigrants in June, and traveled to McAllen, Texas to tour the border and intake facility. As a physician, he has expressed concern about the health and cost of care for these minors and has repeatedly called on President Obama to strengthen his position on this issue and visit the border himself.

Last week, he introduced legislation that would direct the president to reduce foreign aid from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico by $15,000 per child who originated from that particular country. 

A copy of the letter may be found here. 

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