The security and humanitarian crisis at our southern border is getting worse every day. I again ask Congress to act ASAP to give @DHSgov the authorities we need to protect children from the terrible journey, discourage illegal immigration, and secure our border. .@POTUS and I have been warning Congress that failure to fix our immigration laws would be catastrophic...now here we are, in the middle of a catastrophe. This is not the time to be partisan. Now is the time to act decisively to address the crisis.

We face a cascading crisis at our southern border. The system is in freefall. @DHSgov is doing everything possible to respond to a growing humanitarian catastrophe while also securing our borders, but we have reached peak capacity & are now forced to pull from other missions. Let me be clear: the volume of vulnerable populations arriving is without precedent. This makes it far more difficult to care for them and to prioritize individuals legitimately fleeing persecution.

We have a dire situation at the border. Late last year, DHS apprehended or encountered 50-60k migrants a month. Last month, it was more than 75k, the highest in over a decade. This month, we are on track to interdict nearly 100,000 migrants. Congress must act to end this crisis! .@DHSgov facilities are overflowing, agents and officers are stretched too thin, and the magnitude of arriving and detained aliens has increased the risk of life-threatening incidents. I call on Congress to fix this broken system!

.@ICEgov is a leader in combatting transnational organizations engaged in human trafficking. Thank you ICE HSI for the outstanding work you do each day to protect victims, prosecute offenders, and prevent trafficking from occurring. In FY18 alone, @ICEgov conducted over 800 investigations, made roughly 1,500 arrests, and reported more than 500 convictions related to human trafficking. ICE HSI also identified and assisted 308 victims of human trafficking. #HumanTraffickingAwarenessMonth

The threat is real. The number of terror-watchlisted encountered at our Southern Border has increased over the last two years. The exact number is sensitive and details about these cases are extremely sensitive. I am sure all Americans would agree that one terrorist reaching our borders is one too many. These are just the terror suspects we know about who reach our border.

For far too long, our terrible laws and bad judicial rulings have forced the United States to allow illegal aliens to live and work in our country while years-long immigration proceedings roll on. That ends today. #MPP Starting now, @DHSgov is implementing Migrant Protection Protocols #MPP which may require aliens who enter from MX & claim asylum to remain in MX throughout immigration proceedings. 90% of asylum claims are NOT granted by a judge. We want to help those who truly need it.

Border security and immigration enforcement are complex topics. They cannot be reduced to media soundbites. To learn more, please visit go.usa.gov/xQuAa I will not stand by while our immigration system continues to deteriorate. We need real solutions which can only be accomplished through changing the law. I urge Congress to act.

This misreporting by Members, press & advocacy groups must stop. It is irresponsible and unproductive. As I have said many times before, if you are seeking asylum for your family, there is no reason to break the law and illegally cross between ports of entry. You are not breaking the law by seeking asylum at a port of entry.