Border School Underscores Need for Continued Vigilance and Accountability

By Idaho Freedom Caucus Member Representative Dale Hawkins – District 2

This past week, some of my colleagues and I had the privilege of spending time with the men and women serving on our southern border. We also participated in Border School, hosted by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (F.A.I.R.), an event that brought together U.S. Customs and Border Protection, sheriffs from across the nation, and other law enforcement leaders.

What I witnessed was both eye-opening and deeply concerning. In recent years, federal policy dramatically shifted, encouraging mass releases of individuals across the southern border. In one sector I visited, officials reported releasing over 3,000 people per day, well beyond what they were trained and equipped to handle. Many times agents had little clarity about how many individuals were being released, or even who they were releasing into our communities.

This was not the result of oversight; it was intentional policy.

A veteran reporter who has covered the border for years shared a sobering observation:

“We have stopped the bleeding. But with a low-end estimate of nearly 40 million individuals who have entered this country illegally, it is now time to start arresting politicians and corporate leaders of industry that were responsible for allowing this to happen.”

His words underscore a hard truth: accountability is essential. The politicians and corporate leaders who created and fueled the demand for cheap labor, undermining American workers and communities, must be held responsible.

Today, the border is more secure than it has been in recent history. But this is only the beginning. We must now commit ourselves to protecting the American worker, preserving our culture, and ensuring that the values and freedoms envisioned by our Founding Fathers endure for generations to come.

The men and women I met on the southern border are true heroes. Their courage and sacrifice must not be forgotten. We owe it to them and to our children and grandchildren to continue the hard work of securing this nation and defending the American way of life. Let's not let them down.

Representative Dale Hawkins