Arrington, Jodey RSS Articles

Arrington wins full Texas GOP backing for border invasion resolution

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Arrington wins full Texas GOP backing for border invasion resolution

May 7, 2026
BY MATEO ROSILES
USA TODAY NETWORK

With the clock winding down on U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington's term, he still has several items on his checklist he wants to accomplish before leaving office — and one just gained the full support of every Texas Republican in the U.S. House.

The Lubbock Republican's office announced that a resolution on border security — one he has been trying to push through Congress for years — has just received the backing of the full Texas Republican Delegation in the U.S. House.

"Texans have seen the consequences of federal failure, and we cannot afford another border crisis. With the full support of the Texas delegation, I’m calling on Congress to act now to pass this resolution and ensure that no future Democrat administration can take us back to open-border lawlessness," Arrington, R-19, said in a statement.

Arrington's House Resolution 50 was written to affirm states’ constitutional authority to defend themselves when the federal government fails to secure the border.

Here's what you need to know about the resolution, why it was written and who is backing it.

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, speaks at a news conference about the wins and impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill on West Texans and Rural
Americans on July 10, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. Arrington helped author the bill signed by President Trump on July 4. Mateo Rosiles/Avalanche-Journal

What is House Resolution 50?

Arrington's resolution, introduced in January 2025, formally declares that southern border states — Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California — faced an invasion during the Biden Administration.

As a resolution, it is not a law nor does it require a presidential signature; rather, it expresses the U.S. House's opinion on the matter. The resolution alleges that President Joe Biden did not take the necessary actions to protect Americans from threats at the border during his time in office.

Here are the four points laid out in the resolution:

States have the sovereign right to exclude a person without a legal right to be present.
Declares that states along the U.S.-Mexico border were "invaded" or were in "imminent danger" from "paramilitary, narco-terrorist cartels, terrorists and criminal actors" from 2021 to 2024, and the states had the constitutional right to defend themselves
Declares that the federal government failed to protect the border against the invasion from 2021 to 2024.
Declares that the Biden administration failed to "faithfully execute the laws" of the U.S. and to defend and protect states on the southern border against invasion or imminent danger.

Arrington first introduced the resolution in 2021 and then again in 2023 — but neither of them went anywhere.

Why did U.S. Arrington write H.Res. 50?

House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) speaks with press before going to the House Chambers to vote on February 25, 2025 in
Washington, DC. Congress members are voting on three bills relating to small businesses and the 2025 fiscal year budget. Kayla Bartkowski, Getty Images

As Arrington describes, the resolution is grounded in the U.S. Constitution’s Guarantee Clause — Article IV, Section 4 — and Article I, Section 10, which addresses a state’s sovereign authority to act in self-defense when facing invasion or imminent danger.

The resolution alleges that the Biden administration created a failed border policy which allowed record levels of illegal border crossings, cartel activity and drug and human trafficking to take place, putting a strain on border states and communities.

In a 2024 opinion column in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, Arrington stated that during the Biden Administration, Texas and other states were forced to act to protect their citizens, while the federal government failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to provide for the common defense.

With Arrington set to leave office in January 2027, this is the final push he can make on the resolution.

Who is backing H.R. 50?

The U.S.-Mexico border wall stretches along a dirt road new Sunland Park, New Mexico, on March 24, 2026. Gaby Velasquez/El Paso Times, Puente News Collaborative

His resolution has gained the backing of lawmakers, legal scholars, law enforcement and leaders across Texas and the nation.

Most recently, in early April, the Texas Public Policy Foundation penned a letter to Congress in support of Arrington's resolution, with over 100 Texas state lawmakers, Texas Republican leadership and others signing on.

In addition to having every Texas Republican in the U.S. House sign on as a cosponsor of the resolution, Arrington also got the backing of constitutional scholar and former deputy assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel, John Yoo.

"The Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, forbids states from interfering with the federal government’s monopoly over our territorial sovereignty," said Yoo in a statement. "But the House of Representatives could make its own findings of fact that failures at the border rose to the level of an ‘imminent danger’ that would justify a state’s exercise of self-defense. Such a set of findings might bolster Texas’s case in the courts as well as its political case to the public. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R.-Texas, has introduced H.Res 50, for example, to do exactly that. Without such congressional support, Texas is likely to fail."

Texas GOP backs resolution saying states have right to repel border ‘invasion’

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Texas GOP backs resolution saying states have right to repel border ‘invasion’

The push comes as Texas' SB 4, allowing police to arrest migrants suspected of entering the US illegally, faces new legal challenges

May 7, 2026
By Landon Mion
AS SEEN IN FOX NEWS

EXCLUSIVE: The U.S. House’s Texas GOP Caucus announced Thursday that it is united behind a resolution from Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, arguing that states have constitutional authority to secure their borders against an "invasion" or "imminent danger."

The caucus is urging Congress to approve the measure, citing what Republicans called the "failed open-border policies" under former President Joe Biden and the millions of illegal immigrants who crossed into the country during his administration.

"It is the job of elected officials to protect the Americans that sent them to office," Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Unfortunately, we’ve seen Democrat leaders willfully facilitate a border invasion time and time again. States ought to be able to step in and secure the border when federal government cannot or will not do so. I am proud to join the Texas GOP Caucus in standing up for the American people."

The House resolution, first introduced in 2021 in response to the border crisis under the Biden administration, affirms that states have a right under the Constitution to secure their borders if the federal government fails to act. Courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have long treated immigration enforcement as primarily a federal responsibility.

The U.S. House's Texas GOP Caucus announced unified caucus support for a resolution affirming that states have constitutional authority to secure
their borders against an "invasion." (David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images)

H.Res. 50 says states retain sovereign authority under Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution to defend their territory and citizens from "invasion" or "imminent danger" when the federal government fails to meet what Republicans describe as its Article IV, Section 4 obligation to protect states from invasion.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Arrington said the U.S.-Mexico border has largely been secured under the Trump administration but argued his resolution is needed to ensure states can act if a Democrat returns to the White House.

"What we want to avoid is what happened during the four years of the Biden administration, which is, we had a bunch of states being overrun and overwhelmed with illegal immigration and all the various problems that occurred as a result. We didn't have a federal government that was doing its job and, in fact, we had a federal government that was obstructing states like Texas from actually filling the gap that they left because they abdicated that responsibility," the congressman said.

Arrington argued that fentanyl and other drugs flowing across the border contributed to more than 100,000 overdose deaths in a single year during the Biden administration, while illegal border crossings, cartel activity and drug and human trafficking strained border states.

"The drugs were killing hundreds of thousands, they were killing a plane load of American citizens every week," Arrington said. "They killed over 100,000 Americans in one year, which is more than we lost in the Vietnam War. When you're losing more American citizens to what is tantamount to chemical warfare from the Mexican terrorist drug cartels, in close cooperation with the Chinese who were providing the precursor material for synthetic fentanyl, that was the greatest and most imminent threat to our nation during those four years."

The congressman highlighted that his resolution has received support from the Texas GOP Caucus, conservative organizations, law enforcement officials and legal experts.

Rep. Jodey Arrington said his resolution is needed to ensure states can still take action when a Democrat returns to the White House.
(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

"The Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, forbids states from interfering with the federal government’s monopoly over our territorial sovereignty," John Yoo, former deputy assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "But the House of Representatives could make its own findings of fact that failures at the border rose to the level of an ‘imminent danger’ that would justify a state’s exercise of self-defense. Such a set of findings might bolster Texas’s case in the courts as well as its political case to the public. Without such congressional support, Texas is likely to fail."

In a press release obtained by Fox News Digital, Texas GOP Caucus Chairman Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, said "the Framers understood that a state cannot be left at the mercy of a federal government that refuses to do its job when there’s an invasion at its border."

"That's why Article I, Section 10 exists — and that's exactly the situation Texas and our border states faced for four years under the Biden administration. H.Res. 50 affirms what the Constitution already guarantees: states have every right to defend its citizens. The Texas GOP Caucus is united in ensuring that right is recognized and preserved," he said.

The resolution comes amid a legal battle over Texas Senate Bill 4, a state measure that would allow police officers to arrest migrants suspected of illegally crossing into the U.S. and authorize state judges to order certain migrants to leave the country.

The law is set to take effect next week after a federal appeals court vacated a lower court ruling last month that had blocked enforcement. The appeals court found the plaintiffs in that case did not have standing to sue, but it did not resolve the broader constitutional questions surrounding the law.

S.B. 4 established a state-level crime for illegal entry and authorized state magistrates to order certain individuals to leave the country if they are convicted.

Arrington told Fox News Digital that Texas’ S.B. 4 could soon reach the U.S. Supreme Court as legal challenges continue.

Rep. Nathaniel Moran said states "have every right to defend its citizens." (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images)

The Texas Civil Rights Project, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Texas filed a new lawsuit this week seeking emergency relief to block several provisions of the Texas measure before they take effect May 15.

The groups argue the law is unconstitutional, saying immigration enforcement is exclusively the responsibility of the federal government and that federal law should preempt the state statute.

Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, argued that S.B. 4 is "cruel and illegal," adding that the groups "will keep fighting it until it is permanently struck down."

"Every court to have reached the merits of laws like S.B. 4 has found them to be unconstitutional," he said in a statement.

The three groups did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment on Arrington's resolution in time for publication.

Full Texas Republican Delegation Backs Arrington Resolution Affirming States’ Right to Defend Against Border Invasion

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) announced that every Texas Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives has endorsed H.Res.50, his resolution affirming states’ constitutional authority to defend themselves when the federal government fails to secure the border.

With full support from Texas Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, momentum continues to build for congressional action to clarify states’ sovereign authority under the Constitution and ensure that states are never again left defenseless in the face of a federal failure to provide for the common defense.

This effort comes in response to the unprecedented border crisis under the Biden administration and is aimed at ensuring states are never again left defenseless under a future Democrat administration.

“Texas Republicans are united in sending a clear message: Congress must act to ensure that states like Texas are never again forced to be passive victims of a failed federal government.

“Under Biden’s open-border chaos, millions of illegals invaded our southern border, flooding communities with drugs, crime, and criminals.

“Fortunately, border crossings are now at historic lows under President Trump’s leadership - but we cannot rely on who occupies the White House to determine whether our border is secure.

“The Constitution is clear: Article IV, Section 4 says the federal government ‘shall protect each [state] against invasion,’ but when the federal government fails to fulfill this constitutional duty, Article I, Section 10 expressly guarantees states the sovereign power to repel an invasion and defend their citizenry from ‘imminent danger.’

“Texans have seen the consequences of federal failure, and we cannot afford another border crisis. With the full support of the Texas delegation, I’m calling on Congress to act now to pass this resolution and ensure that no future Democrat administration can take us back to open-border lawlessness.” – Chairman Arrington.

H.Res.50 affirms states retain the sovereign authority under Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution to defend their territory and citizens from invasion or imminent danger, particularly when the federal government fails to meet its constitutional obligation under Article IV, Section 4 to protect states from invasion.

Background:

In June 2021, Chairman Arrington introduced H.Res.50 to reaffirm states’ constitutional right to secure their borders and protect their citizens when the federal government fails to act.
The resolution is grounded in the Constitution’s Guarantee Clause (Article IV, Section 4) and Article I, Section 10, which preserves states’ sovereign authority to act in self-defense when facing invasion or imminent danger.
Under the Biden administration’s failed border policy, record levels of illegal border crossings, cartel activity, and drug and human trafficking placed unprecedented strain on border states and communities.
During that time, Texas and other states were forced to take action to protect their citizens, while the federal government failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to provide for the common defense.
H.Res.50 does not expand state authority – it affirms the constitutional balance of federalism, ensuring states are not left defenseless when Washington fails to act.
The resolution has garnered growing support from a broad coalition of policy organizations, legal scholars, law enforcement officials, and conservative leaders across Texas and the country.

Texas Public Policy Foundation Letter

Recently, a letter led by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and dozens of national and state leaders, policy organizations, and law enforcement urged Congress to pass Arrington’s H.Res.50.

“Our constitutional system does not render the states defenseless. To the contrary, states retain the unequivocal right to defend themselves against invasion and imminent threats,” the letter reads, in part. “We respectfully encourage your support of H.Res.50. Doing so reaffirms the constitutional structure the Framers designed—one that preserves both national security and the sovereign capacity of states to defend themselves when necessary.”

Additional Support:

“The Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, forbids states from interfering with the federal government’s monopoly over our territorial sovereignty. But the House of Representatives could make its own findings of fact that failures at the border rose to the level of an ‘imminent danger’ that would justify a state’s exercise of self-defense. Such a set of findings might bolster Texas’s case in the courts as well as its political case to the public. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R.-Texas, has introduced H.Res.50, for example, to do exactly that. Without such congressional support, Texas is likely to fail.” – John Yoo, constitutional scholar and former deputy assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel.

“I’m proud to join Rep. Arrington and fellow Texas leaders in supporting H.Res. 50, which reaffirms the constitutional authority of states to defend their borders when facing invasion or imminent danger. States don’t have to be passive victims when the federal government implements polices that threaten public safety, such as open border polices. H.Res. 50 clarifies that states have clear authority to protect their citizens in the face of immigration concerns.” - State Representative Katrina Pierson.

“Thank you Rep. Arrington for your leadership on this important issue & authoring H.Res.50, which reaffirms states’ constitutional authority to defend their borders against invasion.” – Pro-Family Legislative Network.

“NumbersUSA is proud to support Rep. Arrington’s H.Res.50, reaffirming states’ authority to defend their borders when the federal government refuses to do so. States like TX shouldn’t be defenseless if future administrations reinstate open-border policies” – NumbersUSA

"We at Texas Public Policy Foundation are grateful to Rep. Arrington for his leadership on this effort. Texas knows the importance of affirming states’ power to defend themselves – and we must keep building on that momentum to fully secure our state and our nation.” – Selene Rodriguez, Border Security Director at Texas Public Policy Foundation.

“Texans are affirming states’ authority to act in self-defense, ensuring they are able to withstand federal policy shifts. We were proud to work with Rep. Arrington to help advance this effort & ensure states are not left without options when federal enforcement falls short.” – States Trust.

“We were proud to join 25 Texas lawmakers and over two dozen other organizations to publicly support Rep. Arrington’s House Resolution 50, which reaffirms states’ constitutional right to defend their borders in cases of invasion.” – Border Security Alliance.

“Thank you Rep. Arrington for supporting H.Res.50, reaffirming states’ constitutional authority to defend their borders when the federal government fails to do its job. States like TX shouldn’t be defenseless if future Dem administrations try to reinstate open-border policies.” – Anne Gebhart.

Texas Republican Cosponsors of H.Res.50:

Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01)
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02)
Rep. Keith Self (TX-03)
Rep. Pat Fallon (TX-04)
Rep. Lance Gooden (TX-05)
Rep. Jake Ellzey (TX-06)
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (TX-08)
Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10)
Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11)
Rep. Craig Goldman (TX-12)
Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13)
Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14)
Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)
Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-17)
Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21)
Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22)
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (TX-24)
Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25)
Rep. Brandon Gill (TX-26)
Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27)
Rep. John Carter (TX-31)
Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36)
Rep. Wesley Hunt (TX-38)

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Texas GOP Caucus Backs Resolution Affirming States’ Right to Defend Against Border Invasion

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Texas GOP Caucus Backs Resolution Affirming States’ Right to Defend Against Border Invasion

WASHINGTON — Today, Texas GOP Caucus Chairman Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) announced unified caucus support for H.Res.50, a resolution introduced by House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) affirming states’ constitutional authority to defend themselves when the federal government fails to secure the border.

H.Res.50 affirms states retain the sovereign authority under Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution to defend their territory and citizens from invasion or imminent danger, particularly when the federal government fails to meet its constitutional obligation under Article IV, Section 4 to protect states from invasion.

The Texas GOP Caucus urges Congress to ensure states are never again forced to endure the consequences of federal failure. Under the Biden administration’s failed open-border policies, millions of illegal immigrants crossed into the country, cartel activity and drug trafficking surged, and the federal government actively obstructed Texas’s efforts to secure its own border and defend their citizens. While illegal border crossings have plummeted to historic lows under President Trump’s leadership, the Texas GOP Caucus is fighting to ensure states are never again left defenseless under a future Democrat administration.

“The Framers understood that a state cannot be left at the mercy of a federal government that refuses to do its job when there’s an invasion at its border,” said Chairman Moran. “That's why Article I, Section 10 exists — and that's exactly the situation Texas and our border states faced for four years under the Biden administration. H.Res.50 affirms what the Constitution already guarantees: states have every right to defend its citizens. The Texas GOP Caucus is united in ensuring that right is recognized and preserved.”

“We’ve seen the consequences of a federal government that abdicates its first and most important responsibility – providing for the common defense – and, if the past is prologue, we know exactly what we can expect from future Democrat administrations that want to take us back,” said Chairman Arrington. “The right of a state to defend its people is not a novel theory – it is one the Framers explicitly provided for in the Constitution. That is why I introduced H.Res.50, and the Texas GOP Caucus is united in calling on Congress to meet this moment with the urgency it demands to ensure that states like Texas are never again forced to be passive victims of a failed federal government.”

Background:

H.Res.50 was introduced to reaffirm states’ constitutional right to secure their borders and protect their citizens when the federal government fails to act.

The resolution is grounded in Article IV, Section 4 and Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution. Under the Biden administration’s failed border policy, record levels of illegal border crossings, cartel activity, and drug and human trafficking placed unprecedented strain on border states and communities. During that time, Texas and other states were forced to take action to protect their citizens, while the federal government failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to provide for the common defense.

H.Res.50 does not expand state authority – it affirms the constitutional balance of federalism and ensures states are not left defenseless when Washington fails to act. The resolution has garnered growing support from a broad coalition of policy organizations, legal scholars, law enforcement officials, and conservative leaders across Texas and the country. With full support from the Texas GOP Caucus, members are calling on Congress to pass H.Res.50 and provide clarity for future legal challenges.

The Texas GOP Caucus is composed of Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the State of Texas, including Reps. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Keith Self (TX-03), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Michael McCaul (TX-10), August Pfluger (TX-11), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Randy Weber (TX-14), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Chip Roy (TX-21), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Roger Williams (TX-25), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Michael Cloud (TX-27), John Carter (TX-31), and Brian Babin (TX-36).

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Texas House GOP unites behind U.S. House border invasion resolution

Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Texas House GOP unites behind U.S. House border invasion resolution

May 7, 2026
BY MATEO ROSILES
USA TODAY NETWORK

It's hard to find consensus — even within one's own party — on certain political issues; however, every Texas GOP U.S. representativ e has found an issue and a resolution to rally behind.

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington's office announced that he has secured the backing of the entire Texas Republican Delegation in the U.S. House for a resolution on border security he has authored and has spent years trying to pass.

"Texans have seen the consequences of federal failure, and we cannot afford another border crisis. With the full support of the Texas delegation, I’m calling on Congress to act now to pass this resolution and ensure that no future Democrat administration can take us back to open-border lawlessness," Arrington, R-19, said in a statement.

Arrington's House Resolution 50 was written to affirm states’ constitutional authority to defend themselves when the federal government fails to secure the border.

Here's what you need to know about the resolution, why it was written, and who is backing it.

A U.S. Army Stryker armored vehicle stands near the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, as seen
from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, March10, 2026. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

What is House Resolution 50?

Arrington's resolution, introduced in January 2025, formally declares that southern border states — Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California — faced an invasion during President Joe Biden's administration.

As a resolution, it is not a law nor does it require a presidential signature; rather, it expresses the U.S. House's opinion on the matter. The resolution alleges that President Joe Biden did not take the necessary actions to protect Americans from threats at the border during his time in office.

Here are the four points laid out in the resolution:

States have the sovereign right to exclude a person without a legal right to be present.
Declares that states along the U.S.-Mexico border were "invaded" or were in "imminent danger" from "paramilitary, narco-terrorist cartels, terrorists and criminal actors" from 2021 to 2024, and the states had the constitutional right to defend themselves
Declares that the federal government failed to protect the border against the invasion from 2021 to 2024.
Declares that the Biden administration failed to "faithfully execute the laws" of the U.S. and to defend and protect states on the southern border against invasion or imminent danger.

Arrington first introduced the resolution in 2021 and again in 2023 — but neither went anywhere.

Why did U.S. Arrington write H.R. 50?

As Arrington lays out, the resolution is grounded in the U.S. Constitution’s Guarantee Clause — Article IV, Section 4 — and Article I, Section 10, which addresses a state’s sovereign authority to act in self-defense when facing invasion or imminent danger.

The resolution alleges that under the Biden administration, it had created a failed border policy, which allowed record levels of illegal border crossings, cartel activity and drug and human trafficking to take place, putting a strain on border states and communities.

In a 2024 opinion column in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, Arrington stated that during the Biden Administration, Texas and other states were forced to act to protect their citizens, while the federal government failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to provide for the common defense.

With Arrington's set to leave office in January 2027, this is the final push he can make on the resolution.

Who is backing H.Res. 50?

The U.S.-Mexico border wall stretches along a dirt road near Sunland Park, New Mexico, on March 24, 2026. Gaby Velasquez/El Paso Times,
Puente News Collaborative

Arrington Urges Colleagues to Fund Homeland Security

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) delivered the following remarks on the House floor urging the passage of S.Con.Res. 33, which unlocks reconciliation to fully fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

Click HERE to watch

Remarks as Delivered:

“Mr. Speaker, we're here because my Democrat colleagues have shut the United States Department of Homeland Security down for now 74 days. They have held the American people hostage and have imperiled the safety of every citizen of this country for their ridiculous and even dangerous demands.

“They're not serious. We had a four corners agreement between Republicans and Democrats in the House and the Senate, they reneged. And if it weren't for President Trump's intervention, we would have the hard-working public servants at the Department of Homeland Security going 100 days without pay.

“Ask me, Mr. Speaker, how many days my Democrat colleagues have gone without pay? How long they would tolerate going without pay?

“Mr. Speaker, this isn't just about the inconvenience of long lines at airports. This is an unprecedented national security and public safety crisis; and this is the moment we take the keys from the kids; and we say no more of this nonsense; and we open up the People's Government; and we restore the safety and security of the American people.

“Now, you'll hear my colleagues, no doubt, say, if we could just agree on some commonsense reforms, we would have opened up the Department of Homeland Security. We would have been glad to work with you. But let’s think about these ‘commonsense reforms,’ to require this administration to get a judicial warrant to expel criminal aliens from our country.

“There is not a Democrat or Republican former commander in chief that would ever find that acceptable, because, in fact, these criminal aliens have had their day in immigration court, and they have their orders to be expelled because they are not here with cause. They are here with threat to my family, and to my community, and to my great state of Texas, and to this beloved country of ours. And it's unacceptable, but they would effectively stop all deportations.

“But we had an election after four years of lawlessness and chaos at the southern-border, crime, criminals, and all kinds of criminal elements and drugs that killed more people than the entire Vietnam War in one year. This president was elected to restore law and order-rule of law-in this great civil society of ours… That’s the mandate they gave us, along with unified Republican leadership.

“But there's been one wall of obstruction after another for this president and this administration. That's one example of their ridiculous, absurd, unserious demands.

“The other one is, and I heard this at the Rules Committee, and I couldn't believe my ears… my Democrat colleague repeatedly referred to our honorable ICE and CBP agents as ‘masked thugs.’

“When evil is called good and good is called evil. You remember that quote? You remember that admonition? These are the days.

“Mr. Speaker, we've given 16 chances in all-opportunities to vote to turn this government of the people back on and support our ICE and CBP agents, to protect our ports by funding our guardsmen. To protect the CISA agents, to protect our critical infrastructure while cyber-attacks are on the rise, and to resource our FEMA agency to be ready to respond to our citizens in a natural disaster. 16 times they said no. And here we are, demasking our agents, calling them masked thugs.

“8,000% increase, Mr. Speaker, in death threats to these gentlemen and gentle ladies, who wear the badge, who wear the uniform, who protect the thin blue line, a 1,300% increase in assaults. 3,200% increase in vehicular assaults…We have cartel members who have bounties of tens of thousands of dollars on their heads, and we have masked leftist, radical, violent folks who are assaulting them in the streets while they're trying to do their dangerous job.

“You want to know why we’re here, Mr. Speaker? You want to know why we’re here, the American people? That’s why we’re here.

“And we say: ‘enough is enough.’ And today we put forward this budget resolution with reconciliation instructions to fund the people's Homeland Security to protect our citizens and to do right by these hard-working, God-fearing public servants that go to work every day not knowing if they're going to come home.”

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Arrington: 'Republicans are putting the safety and security of the American people first'

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a vote of 215-211 S.Con.Res. 33, unlocking reconciliation to fully fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP):

“For 74 days, Democrats have held our homeland security hostage—jeopardizing the safety of the American people and withholding pay from the very men and women sworn to protect them. Democrats had 16 opportunities to do the right thing. They chose obstruction. They chose politics over public safety. Today, House Republicans said enough is enough.

“With passage of this budget resolution, we are unlocking reconciliation to fully fund ICE and CBP so we can deliver on the mandate the American people gave Republicans: secure the border, enforce the law, and protect our communities.

“This is about more than reopening a shuttered department. It’s about standing with our ICE and CBP agents who have been under attack, under-resourced, and undermined for far too long. It’s about ensuring our ports are secure, our infrastructure is protected, and our nation is prepared to respond to threats—whether from criminals, cartels, or cyberattacks.

“Republicans are fully funding the people’s government and putting the safety and security of the American people first. Make America Safe Again!” – Chairman Arrington.

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Arrington Statement on House Passage of DHS Funding Bill

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7147, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, the twelfth and final appropriations bill, funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide resources to TSA, FEMA, CISA, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other critical agencies:

“For 75 days, Democrats have kept DHS shut down. House Democrats had 17 opportunities to stand with the men and women who risk their lives for our ports, our borders, and other critical infrastructure.

“Today, House Republicans acted to end this reckless shutdown and restore critical operations to DHS, while using reconciliation to fund ICE and CBP for the next three years. This will prevent the Democrats from shutting down the government and defunding ICE in the future and provide our agents the resources they need to secure the border, enforce the law, and protect our communities.

“After four years of lawlessness under Democrats and President Biden and 75 days of Democrat dysfunction, Republicans are restoring order and putting the safety and security of this country first.” – Chairman Arrington.

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Arrington at Rules Hearing: Republicans Are Going to Fund Our Government

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) testified before the House Rules Committee on S.Con.Res. 33, which unlocks reconciliation to fully fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

Click HERE to watch

Remarks as Delivered:

“We're here today to stop the political nonsense and dangerous brinkmanship of our Democrat colleagues who for 72 days and 16 votes have held the Department of Homeland Security and the American people who depend on their services hostage over ridiculous and reckless demands that would effectively imperil not only the safety of our federal law enforcement agencies, but the American people.

“It would, as a result, defund ICE and CBP and revert back to the four years of lawlessness and chaos from the open border.

“Madam Chair, this is serious business. This isn’t just about the inconvenience at airports or the extenuating circumstances under which we fund our federal government.

“This is an unprecedented and sustained national security and public safety threat, and it has to stop. That’s why we're here.

“We’re here because our ports need to be defended from the trafficking of people and drugs and protected from terrorist attacks like we saw in Austin, Texas, or the failed ISIS attacks in the heart of New York City, or what happened to the President and the Cabinet members and all those at the Correspondent’s Dinner. And we could go on and on.

“It is completely unacceptable to not fund the federal government, and especially the Department of Homeland Security. CISA agents cannot defend our critical infrastructure against hostile hacks, and the list goes on.

“Without the support and collegiality and the good faith negotiations...we have to resort to a measure to do what the American people, again, for 72 days have been praying we would do and come to our senses and do the right thing.

“If it weren't for the President's intervention, these poor folks at Homeland Security, the employees, the hardworking public servants, would have gone without pay for over 100 days.

“Next week... if we don’t act unilaterally as responsible leaders for our country, they would go without pay. Enough is enough.

“We’re going to do what I believe is the right thing, and we’re going to fund our government. That includes those who protect us and risk their lives to enforce our immigration laws and to deport the criminal aliens who are in this country putting our communities and our families at risk.”

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Chairmen Arrington, Comer Introduce Legislation to Stop Fraud in Federal Programs

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. – Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) joined House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) in introducing legislation to protect taxpayer dollars by preventing fraud in federal programs, the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act (H.R. 8464) and the Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act (H.R. 8463).

“Politicians’ perpetual addiction to buying votes and Washington’s abject failure to protect tax dollars have resulted in an unprecedented scale of fraud that threatens not only the sustainability of our safety net programs, but also the future economic viability of our nation. Instead of hunting down stolen money after the fact, these bills prevent improper payments and fraud from happening in the first place. If we’re serious about restoring fiscal sanity to Washington, we must get serious about eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse wherever they exist. I’m proud to work with Chairman Comer to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure these programs serve the people they were intended to help—not those who seek to exploit them,” said Chairman Arrington.

“Fraud in federal programs is rampant across the country. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s investigation into Minnesota’s social services programs uncovered a whopping $9 billion potentially stolen by fraudsters. These criminals enriched themselves by stealing taxpayer dollars meant to feed children, support autistic kids, and house low-income seniors and Americans with disabilities. Americans are fed up with this abuse and expect action from the government entrusted with their money. Today, I am introducing legislation to stop fraudulent payments before they go out the door and ensure taxpayer-funded programs go to their intended recipients. These long-overdue integrity measures will strengthen the federal payment system, and I look forward to advancing these bills next week at the Oversight Committee’s markup,” said Chairman Comer.

BACKGROUND

The Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act tackles the widespread “pay and chase” problem by preventing federal agencies from making payments when an agency has determined there is an elevated risk of fraud or the payment is likely to be improper. The bill also gives the U.S. Treasury new authority to return payment requests to agencies if they appear to be at risk for fraud. These reforms shift agency actions from recovery to prevention which protects taxpayer dollars.
Read the bill text HERE.

The Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention and Treasury Data Access Act strengthens the federal government’s financial oversight and controls by directing the U.S. Treasury to work with agencies to verify payment and payee information before payments go out the door. It reduces fraud by expanding tools like the Do Not Pay system and ensuring federal agencies have better access to accurate data to identify improper and fraudulent payments.Read the bill text HERE.

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