U.S. Rep. Dr. Ralph Abraham, R-La., announced Tuesday morning that he has cosponsored a bill that would build a border wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.

HR 7059, the “Build the Wall, Enforce the Law Act,” was introduced by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. It provides an appropriation to match President Trump’s funding request for a border wall and includes resources for technology and infrastructure necessary to support the all and border control operations.

“As the caravan of more than 7,000 migrants makes its way unchecked through Central America, one thing is crystal clear: If we don’t defend our borders, no one will. That’s why I’ve cosponsored the ‘Build the Wall Act’ that will give our nation the ability to maintain the integrity of our borders,” Abraham said. “A border wall will keep the drug dealers, gang members and human traffickers out of our country and prevent thousands of people from pouring into the country for the courts to sort out later. I reject calls from the left to abolish ICE and open our borders because a nation without a border is no nation at all. We should vote on this bill the second Congress goes back into session.”

Abraham has long been a supporter of building a border wall and enhancing our border security. In June, he voted to provide wall funding and other border security and immigration reforms by supporting the conservative “Securing America’s Future Act” authored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul. That bill was ultimately defeated.
In addition to providing funding for a border wall, HR 7059 includes portions of House-passed legislation that will enhance border security including provisions to end funding for sanctuary cities, increase penalties for criminal aliens who illegally re-enter the United States, and prevent immigration and asylum benefits for criminal alien gang members. It also denounces calls to abolish ICE and expresses the sense of Congress that illegal immigrants should not be allowed to vote in American elections.