Blaming Biden policies for an "ongoing humanitarian disaster," Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) supported the Secure the Border Act on Thursday and was part of the bill's victorious vote.
The House of Representatives approved House Bill 2 in a majority 219 to 213 vote with Calvert a staunch supporter as he seeks to stop a "crisis" that he views as particularly harmful to Riverside County, his home territory.
“The crisis at the southern border is a human tragedy, a national security threat and a catastrophe that was entirely predictable,” Calvert, who represents District 41, said in a press release. “For years, Republicans in Congress have urged the Biden administration to take action to prevent this crisis, but after ignoring our pleas, President Biden’s inaction has resulted in the ongoing humanitarian disaster."
Calvert also predicted that, without an improved policy, problems associated with the border will only get worse.
"Riverside County remains the only non-border county in the country where the Biden administration is dropping off migrants after they are processed," he said. "Sadly, I believe the level of human suffering is only going to increase as our Border Patrol officers, local governments and non-governmental organizations become overwhelmed.”
The bill incorporates Calvert’s Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 2640), which calls for U.S. employers to verify work eligibility status before hiring new workers. They are to utilize the E-Verify system as a way to make certain that American jobs go to legal workers and citizens.
Calvert describes the Secure the Border Act as an essential step to address the border crisis that returns authority to the Homeland Security Secretary to take back operational control over the border. Designed to guard against abuse, the measure also features asylum process reforms.
“I continue to support legal pathways for Dreamers, a functional temporary agricultural worker program and steps to allow foreign students who study in America to join our workforce – but failing to regain control of our border and restoring the rule of law only makes it harder to implement these bipartisan steps to institute common-sense reforms to our legal immigration system,” Calvert said.
Calvert, a Riverside County lifelong resident, has worked as a restaurant and real-estate entrepreneur for almost two decades, according to his biography. Additionally, Calvert is known to give back to the community beyond his role in Congress by serving a number of community volunteer groups, such as the Corona Chamber of Commerce, the Corona Rotary and the Corona-Norco Family YMCA.