Lummis, Barrasso Cosponsor Bill to Stop Wyoming Taxpayer Money Going to Illegal Immigrants

November 4, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and John Barrasso (R-WY) cosponsored legislation by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) amending the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 to stop the Biden administration from giving illegal immigrants up to $450,000 per person in taxpayer money settlements. The bill comes in response to press reports that the Department of Justice is considering making payments to illegal immigrants in response to certain Trump administration immigration policies.

“People in Wyoming are not interested in bankrolling yet another handout from the federal government, especially to those who broke the law. It’s long past time to secure our borders and begin taking our crippling national debt seriously,” Senator Lummis said. “A $450,000 check to those who crossed our border illegally will not do anything to make our country safer or financially secure. I applaud Senator Daines for standing up for Wyoming citizens, and all Americans, who recognize the absurdity of this proposal from the Biden administration.”

“It’s an outrageous insult to the American people to use taxpayer money to support the Biden administration’s failed and dangerous open-border policies,” Senator Barrasso said. “The Biden administration was recently reported to be considering rewarding illegal immigrants who break the law with up to $450,000 each. This is over four times more than what we give the families of our fallen service members – including the family of Wyoming’s own Rylee McCollum. Our legislation will block any money from taxpayers in Wyoming and across the country from falling into the hands of those who break our laws.”

“Biden’s open border policies have reached a new crazy level. Montana families are struggling with inflation and skyrocketing costs on everything from gas to groceries because of Biden’s wasteful spending policies, and now the President wants to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to illegal immigrants. Because of Biden, our southern border has been taken over by Mexican cartels and this effort will only continue to incentivize illegal immigration making it worse. This is a gut punch to the American taxpayer,” Senator Daines added.

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