Pete’s Playbook: Report from the Border

Dear Scott,

One of the most important issues to Minnesotans I talk to and visit with continues to be the national security and humanitarian crises on our borders. Last week I visited the southern border to see once again how devastating Joe Biden’s policies are and what an overwhelming and negative impact our porous borders are having on U.S. Border Patrol agents and the local law enforcement left dealing with the mess.

Many of the agents and law enforcement I met with expressed how effective the Trump-era immigration policies were just a few short years ago. They lamented how Biden’s elimination of those border security policies resulted in skyrocketing illegal immigration and much less safe communities near the border and throughout the country when you consider the amount of fentanyl being trafficked.

Let’s be clear: Biden could qualm this crisis he caused by quickly using his executive authority to:

• End catch-and-release
• Reinstate Remain in Mexico
• Enter into asylum cooperative agreements
• End parole abuses
• Detain inadmissible aliens
• Use expedited removal
• Reign in taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens
• Issue a proclamation to suspend or restrict entry

Meanwhile, while we are continuing to fight Joe Biden’s borderless society, Minnesota Democrats introduced legislation to make Minnesota the 13th sanctuary state in the country. The bill would prohibit state and local agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities to deport illegal activity. As this article reports, Gov. Tim Walz has said in the past that he supports this law. The DFL’s path of destruction for Minnesotans continues.

I’ve participated in numerous town hall meetings across northern Minnesota and constituents are fed up with how wolves are threatening their livestock and family pets. The dramatic rise in gray wolf population is causing devastating repercussions. Years ago, the Obama administration proposed removing protections for gray wolves in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin but frivolous lawsuits from extremist organizations that don’t rely on science or facts and seek to fundraise by keeping species listed under the ESA in perpetuity, regardless of merits and findings. The science is clear – the wolf population has recovered and I will continue fighting in Washington to delist! Read more in this Outdoor Life story.

As you may know, Tuesday, Feb. 27 – is Precinct Caucus Night in Minnesota ! On that evening one week from this coming Tuesday, conservatives from around Minnesota will gather with their neighbors in locations throughout the 8th district to participate in the on-ramp to the 2024 elections. Please attend your local caucus and exercise one of our most fundamental democratic rights. To find your local precinct caucus location, click here.

I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail!

Sincerely,