Stauber, Fellow Republicans Hold Discussion on Law and Order to Highlight Ill Effects of the Crime and Border Crises

January 20, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Pete Stauber joined five of his colleagues and law enforcement experts for a roundtable conversation on law and order.

The discussion focused on how anti-police and open borders policies advanced by the Democrats have led to dual crime and border crises that are threatening the safety of American communities. During Biden's first year in office, at least 16 major U.S. cities set new homicide records and over 1.7 million illegal immigrants were apprehended at our southern border. To highlight these problems, House Republicans brought together a panel of law enforcement experts to discuss the problems that they are experiencing — and more importantly, to hear what the lawmakers can do to alleviate the impact that rising crime has had on our communities.

Here are some of the takeaways from their conversation, which can also be viewed in full here:

Rep. Pete Stauber (MN-08): "Radical policies and rhetoric have led to a drastic rise in crime — and an open border. As a former law enforcement officer of 23 years, I know that a properly staffed and properly trained police force is necessary to keep our communities safe. Defunding the police or even talking about this idea is wrong and dangerous. Democrat-run cities across the country who have defunded the police have seen an increase in the rise in crime."

Rep. Clay Higgins (LA-03): "1.7 million documented interceptions at the border actually equates to over 2 million illegal crossings because we have about a 35% got-away rate... Law enforcement is overwhelmed at our border and restricted by Biden's policies to do their job."

Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council: "If they're not going to be prosecuted, if they're not going to be held accountable, they're going to continue to violate the law."

Rafael Mangual, Senior Fellow and Head of Research for the Policing and Public Safety Initiative at the Manhattan Institute:"In 2013, we had 713,000 police officers working in full-time uniform roles in this country. That number is now below 680,000... This really isn't a job that people are lining up for the way that they used to just ten years ago."

Sheriff Vernon Stanforth (Fayette County, OH): "Literally across the country we're seeing the impact of defunding the police. In the major cities, where councils have cut their budgets and realigned their funds, we're seeing a rise in carjackings and home invasions."

Sheriff Michael Milstead (Minnehaha County, SD): "We are seeing a significant decrease in applicants for police officers... but with defund the police and the rhetoric that is out there... our applicant pool is down. Our turnover rate is up."

Here is the list of Members of Congress who participated:

  • Rep. Pete Stauber (MN-08)
  • Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11)
  • Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04)
  • Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08)
  • Rep. Clay Higgins (LA-03)
  • Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21)

Here is the list of outside guests who joined the conversation:

  • Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council
  • Rafael Mangual, Senior Fellow and Head of Research for the Policing and Public Safety Initiative at the Manhattan Institute
  • Sheriff Vernon Stanforth (Fayette County, OH)
  • Sheriff Michael Milstead (Minnehaha County, SD)

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