Western South Dakota News

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) addressed the Senate floor on Thursday, highlighting the potential risks associated with President Biden’s border policies. Thune cited the entry of approximately 10 million illegal immigrants during the Biden administration, including individuals suspected of terrorism and criminal activities.

"Mr. President, last month’s arrest of eight men from Tajikistan with suspected ties to ISIS further underscored what we have known for a long time – that President Biden’s three-year-plus border crisis is a threat to our national security," Thune stated.

He pointed out several incidents involving illegal immigrants accused of serious crimes, such as murder cases in Maryland, Georgia, and Texas. Thune emphasized the difficulty in predicting or preventing every crime but attributed an increase in dangerous entries to what he described as chaos at the southern border.

"Since President Biden took office, approximately 10 million individuals – that we know of – have made their way illegally into our country," Thune said. He noted that this number exceeds the population of most U.S. states and marked three consecutive years of record-breaking illegal immigration under Biden's tenure.

Thune also mentioned a recent executive action by President Biden aimed at addressing these issues but criticized it as insufficient and overdue. "While this might – might – be a case of better late than never, I’m afraid it’s also a case of too little, too late," he remarked.

Particularly concerning to Thune are the estimated 1.8 million known gotaways—individuals observed but not apprehended by Border Patrol during this administration. He referenced U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens' comments on these figures: "... those are the numbers that really keep us up at night."

Thune concluded by expressing skepticism about future improvements and concerns over ongoing effects from current policies: "Even if President Biden’s executive action from last month does do something to help reduce the flow of illegal immigration... we will still be left with the effects of the chaos he has allowed to rage at our southern border for three-plus years."

Senator Thune ended his remarks by yielding the floor.