Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak visits southern border with House Republican colleagues

March 11, 2025 Press Release Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border with freshman House Republican members to see firsthand the challenges facing border communities and law enforcement as a result of the disastrous policies of the Biden administration. The delegation, hosted by Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), met with officials on the front lines and toured several facilities, including the southern border wall. “Thank you to Congressman Ciscomani for hosting me to his district in Arizona and for his leadership on border security. Learning more about the many layers of our nation’s border crisis and the far-reaching consequences of President Biden’s refusal to lead on this issue was eye-opening,” Fedorchak said. “For the last four years, our law enforcement officers were overwhelmed with processing illegal crossings instead of securing the border. Now, with President Trump enforcing existing law, they’re back to being able to do their jobs. I’m committed to working with the Trump administration and my colleagues in Congress to make sure our border agents have the tools and resources they need to keep our country safe.” Image Photo of the House delegation kicking off Friday with local Tucson law enforcement The group toured key locations, including the Nogales Port of Entry , the nation’s largest crossing for fruits and vegetables and the leading site for fentanyl seizures. There, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents highlighted their efforts to intercept illegal drugs, cash, and firearms while ensuring legitimate trade moves efficiently. Image Image On top: Agents highlight how they sort through legitimate goods from those trafficking illicit substances. On the bottom: A CBP agent shares how cartels have gotten creative in smuggling items across the border, including hiding drugs in the back of paintings . At a migrant processing center , Fedorchak noted a stark contrast from the height of the border crisis: “A year ago, this facility held 1,400 immigrants. Today, it had zero. That’s because President Trump is enforcing our nation’s laws, allowing agents to focus on stopping the trafficking of people, drugs, and guns.” The tour continued to the border wall in Nogales , where CBP agents emphasized its effectiveness. The first wall on the southern border was built years ago by Mexico, and then President Obama constructed the first sections of the U.S. border wall. According to CBP, the wall helps stops roughly 95% of crossings. Image Image Photo on the bottom: Rep. Ciscomani highlights how the border wall on the right is the first wall, constructed by Mexico, and the border wall on top is the second wall constructed by the Obama administration. The delegation also met with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials investigating transnational criminal organizations that fuel human trafficking and drug smuggling. “These organizations are making millions of dollars—if not more—off the suffering of innocent people,” Fedorchak added. “We need strong policies to dismantle these networks and secure our country.” Image On Friday night, the delegation toured the southern border to further examine the growing threat Mexican cartels pose to national security. The discussion focused on the need to crack down on cartel spotters and informants who aid their operations, making it harder for law enforcement to secure the border and stop criminal activity. Image Image Fedorchak praised CBP and ICE agents for their tireless work and reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening border security policies. “Our law enforcement officers have been stretched to the brink, but now, with a return to real enforcement, they are back to doing their jobs—protecting America,” she concluded. CLICK HERE for Fedorchak’s X (formerly Twitter) thread recapping the trip. CLICK HERE to listen in to her radio segment with Steve Hallstrom, live from the southern border. ### Issues : Congress