Attorney General Ashley Moody and 15 other state attorneys general have voiced their strong objections to the United States Senate's proposed border supplemental bill. In a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the attorneys general outlined their concerns and appealed to lawmakers to reject the bill.
Attorney General Moody criticized the bill, stating, "This bill is a mirage. It codifies many of the illegal actions President Biden has already taken. The President caused this crisis, and the fact is, he could begin strengthening the border tomorrow by simply enforcing the law."
The attorneys general raised several key points against the bill. They argued that the proposed legislation establishes a baseline number of encounters at the border that is equivalent to the crisis-level volume of immigration seen since President Biden took office. This provision would allow the President to override these numbers at his discretion. Additionally, the attorneys general objected to the inclusion of unrelated provisions, such as $60 billion for Ukraine, within the bill.
Addressing the powers of the President, the attorneys general emphasized that he does not need to wait for a specific number of encounters before expelling illegal entrants. They claimed that the bill would only provide false cover for the President to continue allowing thousands of foreigners to commit felonies by entering the country at locations other than ports of entry.
The attorneys general also took issue with a specific provision in the bill that grants sole jurisdiction to the District Court for the District of Columbia to hear legal and constitutional challenges related to the bill. They argued that this provision was an attempt to avoid any venue close to the border and would heavily favor the federal government in legal challenges brought by the states. They highlighted that historically, states have been able to challenge federal policies in their own federal courts.
Joining Attorney General Moody in signing the letter were attorneys general from Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The attorneys general concluded their letter by asserting that existing U.S. immigration laws already provide the necessary tools to address the incentives for aliens to come to the country, eliminate policies that allow them to remain, and deport those who enter illegally.
To read the full letter, click here.
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Source: [Attorney General Moody Calls on Congress to Oppose US Senate Border Bill](https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/DA41769A3B9383E2852589F90054D4D9)