Hawkeye Reporter

Senator Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, detailed new border security and law enforcement measures included in the Senate’s latest budget bill. According to Grassley, these upgrades are aimed at addressing what he described as “disastrous open border policies” from the Biden-Harris administration.

Grassley pointed to a recent report by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, which found that some Afghan evacuees were not properly vetted after entering the United States. He referenced an incident last fall where an Afghan national was arrested for plotting a terror attack on U.S. soil after arriving on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). Grassley also cited concerns following Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, which targeted three Iranian nuclear sites and heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. He noted that among more than 1,500 Iranian nationals encountered crossing into the U.S. illegally during the previous administration, nearly half were released into the country.

“As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I included significant upgrades for border security in the Senate’s budget bill that address the disastrous open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration. During the previous administration, more than 10 million illegal immigrants from countries around the world poured across our nation’s southern border, including violent criminals and potential terrorists. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General earlier this month confirmed the Biden-Harris administration failed to properly vet all Afghan evacuees, encountering at least 55 individuals with hits on the terrorist screening database. Last fall, the FBI arrested an Afghan national for plotting a terror attack on U.S. soil after gaining entry on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). Following Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22 that struck three of Iran’s nuclear sites, tensions between Iran and the United States underscore the real and present danger of an open border policy. Just consider, of more than 1,500 Iranian nationals who were encountered at the southern border crossing illegally into the U.S. during the previous administration, nearly half were released into the country. The potential for Iranian sleeper cells on the ground here in the United States is a reckless consequence of Biden-Harris open border policies. The Trump administration is coordinating among federal agencies to address this risk,” said Grassley.

He explained that as lawmakers negotiated details for what is called “the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” he led efforts to increase investments in immigration enforcement systems. These investments include additional funding for immigration agencies; reimbursement to states assisting with border protection; expanded resources for law enforcement officers; and increased fees intended to offset enforcement costs.

Grassley addressed how current policies have affected law enforcement safety: “Plain and simple, foolish border policies under Biden White House unleashed an unmanageable mess at southern border. The border crisis overwhelmed law enforcement and immigration officials and empowered dangerous Mexican drug cartels to ramp up their human smuggling and drug trafficking networks.”

In June, Grassley convened a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where officials from federal agencies such as Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations testified about their experiences dealing with criminal activity at or near U.S borders.

“Our bill includes more resources for Department of Justice to combat flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl that have devastated too many families,” said Grassley.

He also advocated for increased funding through programs like Byrne JAG and Community Policing Services (COPS) to support local crime-fighting efforts nationwide. Additional provisions target staffing shortages within Bureau of Prisons facilities while enhancing recruitment tools for U.S Secret Service agents—an issue highlighted after two assassination attempts against President Trump.

“The Senate bill responds to mandate of last election," Grassley stated."The electorate voted for America First agenda,and that includes reclaiming our sovereignty and rule-of-law at our borders to keep Americans safe.”