(The Center Square)聽性视界传媒 Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke in Detroit over the weekend, discussing how the Trump administration is working to secure America性视界传媒檚 northern border with Canada.
Noem said that steps have already been taken toward that goal, but that much more still needs to be done.
性视界传媒淚t has to be all hands on deck,性视界传媒 Noem said. 性视界传媒淲e've got more resources here than we ever have before, and more is coming.性视界传媒
Noem spoke at hosted by America's Future Tour, a project of Building America's Future. The U.S.-Canada partnership, impacts on the tribal communities on the border, and struggles for local law enforcement were all touched during the roundtable.
U.S. Rep. John James, R-MI, joined Noem and other border security and law enforcement advocates at the event. James called illegal immigration and drug trafficking a 性视界传媒渃risis,性视界传媒 both for Michigan and other northern border states.
性视界传媒淢ichigan is at the forefront. We are the epicenter of the northern border crisis,性视界传媒 James said. 性视界传媒淲e have a vital opportunity to secure our border and no one is doing a better job than President Donald J. Trump.性视界传媒
There are 13 U.S. states that border Canada, including Alaska. Yet, Noem said the consequences of the border crisis extends beyond the states on either the northern or southern border.
性视界传媒淲e are dealing with this as a failure of the Biden administration and how tragically they destroyed the security of the families that live in this country,性视界传媒 Noem said. 性视界传媒淓very state has become a border state.性视界传媒
Currently, the majority of all illegal drugs and terrorists entering the U.S. is entering through the northern border, . This is due to the lockdown of entry at the southern border.
性视界传媒淪ince we have secured the southern border, the TDA [Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization from Venezuela], the MS-13, and the cartels are bringing their drugs and coming across this northern border as well,性视界传媒 Noem said. 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 very important for folks to realize that, as we're encountering them, that we're not letting down our guard here at the northern border.性视界传媒
Under the Biden administration, the northern border saw its greatest number of apprehensions of illegal border crossers in U.S. history, including the greatest number of Canadian illegal border crossers, . The majority of those illegal border crossers were reported in New York, Washington and Vermont.
The flow has not stopped though, from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection showing the number of arrests made by the Border Patrol in Maine had reached its highest level in more than two decades.
James said more federal attention should now be turned to the northern border, as they work with Canada to help enforce America性视界传媒檚 border policies.
性视界传媒淣ext, we need to secure our northern border, and we need a less than laissez-faire approach from our Canadian neighbors,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淲e need them to take our border security as seriously as they want us to take their sovereignty. We need to use every tool at our disposal.性视界传媒
James applauded the use of tariffs against the Canadians to get them to the table, while Noem said she hopes the new political leadership in Canada will be more willing to work with the U.S. to enforce the border.
性视界传媒淭he former Prime Minister of Canada was a train wreck, and he was hard to work with,性视界传媒 Noem said. 性视界传媒淲e are really hopeful that this new leader, Prime Minister Carney, will be a different individual 性视界传媒 a different individual who will work closely with the Trump administration to give us the security, the information and the partnerships we need . . . Now we have the opportunity for a better partnership going forward.性视界传媒
For Michigan, Noem said that will include border enforcement not just on land, but also on the Great Lakes.
性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檙e strengthening not just what we do at our ports of entry to scan shipping containers, trucks, cars, passengers, people and pedestrians that may cross, but also what we're doing out on the waters,性视界传媒 she explained.
If the additional funding for DHS is passed by Congress in the Trump-supported One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Noem said even more support would be headed to the northern border.
性视界传媒淭his [bill] is extremely important to fund the operation that we need to get these criminals out of our country,性视界传媒 Noem said. 性视界传媒淲e need to be able to have the resources for our law enforcement to have backup, to build the infrastructure at the wall that we need, and to be able to go out there and have the officers that we need to do the work that needs to be done to restore law and order.性视界传媒
