Peace Garden News

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said former President Donald Trump (R) has a track record of securing the U.S.-Mexico border.

“The question about how Donald Trump will secure the border ignores the fact he has done it before and has the will to do it again,” Cramer posted on X. “Enforce existing laws.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported there were more than 2.7 million illegal alien encounters during Fiscal Year 2024. 

In fiscal year 2020, the year President Joe Biden (D) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) took office, there were only 646,822 illegal alien encounters. 

In fiscal year 2017, the year former President Donald Trump took office, there were only 526,901 illegal alien encounters. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the nation’s largest federal law enforcement agency charged with securing the nation’s borders and facilitating international travel and trade. The agency's top priority is to keep terrorists and their weapons from entering the United States.

On January 20, 2021, the same day Biden and Harris were inaugurated, Biden signed a proclamation, titled, “Proclamation on the Termination Of Emergency With Respect To The Southern Border Of The United States And Redirection Of Funds Diverted To Border Wall Construction.”

“I have determined that the declaration of a national emergency at our southern border in Proclamation 9844 of February 15, 2019 (Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States), was unwarranted,” said Biden’s proclamation. “It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall.”

The proclamation also stated that the United States has a "right and a duty" to secure its borders and "protect its people against threats."

"But building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution," it said. "It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security. My Administration is committed to ensuring that the United States has a comprehensive and humane immigration system that operates consistently with our Nation’s values."

A native of Rolette, N.D., Cramer was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018 after defeating incumbent Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Prior to his Senate career, Cramer was the state’s at-large Representative in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2019. He has also held various other positions in state government, including Public Service Commissioner from 2003 to 2012 and as the State Tourism Director. 

Cramer received his undergraduate degree from Concordia College and a master’s degree from the University of Mary. He is married and has five children.