WASHINGTON – As part of his commitment to ensuring that U.S. borders are secured, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today joined a group of his Senate colleagues in forming the Border Security and Enforcement First Caucus.  In addition to Wicker, the caucus, chaired by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), is comprised of Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.). 

The U.S. illegal immigrant population is the highest it has ever been. One in 25 residents currently living in the United States is here illegally. Over the last seven years, immigration has been the highest in history – 10.9 million immigrants arrived, over half of them without legal status.

“Immigration reform needs to begin with strong enforcement of our laws and increased border security,” Sen. Wicker said.  “We are a nation built upon the rule of law.  Mississippians understand that, and they expect this Congress to enforce those laws to the fullest.  I look forward to working with my colleagues in this border security caucus to advance policies that will help achieve that goal.” 

The caucus members recognize that Congress has presented the American people with a false choice in solving the illegal immigration problem – give illegal aliens amnesty or round them up and deport them en masse.   The principle mission of the caucus is to promote a true, achievable alternative: attrition through enforcement and border security.  Living illegally in the United States will become more difficult and less satisfying over time when the government – at all levels – enforces all of the laws already on the books.

The caucus will be a platform to let Americans know that some in the U.S. Senate are continuing to make sure that the laws already on the books will be enforced, act as the voice of those concerned citizens who have expressed their opinions time and time again for interior enforcement and border security, push for stronger border security and interior enforcement legislation, and work together in the U.S. Senate to defeat future legislation that offers amnesty. 

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