Congressman John Carter (R-TX31) has been appointed as one of seven House members to join the House working group to stop the flood of illegal immigrants at our border. In May alone, the number of unaccompanied alien children (UAC) apprehended by the United States Customs and Border Protection increased by 267 percent over the number apprehended in May the previous year.  During the same period, the number of undocumented adults increased 72 percent.

“This is an overwhelming problem for the people of America, and it is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Congressman Carter, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. “Originally it was estimated that we would see 66,000 children crossing the border this year. Well, word has gotten out that the Obama Administration has given their “permisos,” or permission, to be here and now we are expecting up to 72,300 children in 2014. Next year this number is expected to skyrocket to 145,000 children. This surge in illegal immigrants is the direct result of bad policy coming out of the White House and the lack of enforcement of the laws at the border.”

Last week, Congressman Carter led a letter to the President asking him to enforce the law and get rid of the incentives for illicit networks to smuggle thousands of children and adults into the United States. Since the President has failed to take the necessary steps to contain this crisis, Speaker Boehner has decided to form a working group led by Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX12) to help remedy this problem.

“Texans understand the consequences of the President’s lack of enforcement of the law at our border, because it is in our back yard. I’m proud that I can serve in this working group along with my Texas colleagues Congresswoman Granger and Congressman McCaul because we know what is at stake. It’s time to get good policy on the border and it’s time to get the Administration to do what it’s supposed to do and that is enforce the laws.”

The working group is led by Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX12) and includes Congressman John Carter (R-TX31), Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL25), Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA6), Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX10), Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM2), and Congressman Matt Salmon (R-AZ5).