Lindsey Graham stresses importance of prioritizing border security: ‘Delay equals danger’
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham on Thursday warned that delaying action to address the nation’s southern border is “delay equals danger” and that the long-term consequences of inaction will be devastating for the country.
Graham’s comments came as the Republican-controlled Senate prepared to take up a bill that would provide $4.5 billion for border security, a fraction of the $18 billion requested by President Donald Trump. The proposal is expected to face opposition from Democrats and some Republicans who want to see a more comprehensive solution.
“We’re not going to get a better offer than this,” Graham said. “It’s time to get serious about border security. We owe it to the American people to secure the border and to do what’s necessary to keep them safe.”
Graham, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also criticized the administration’s efforts to address the crisis, saying that the situation at the border is a “national emergency” that requires immediate action.
The senator has been a strong supporter of Trump’s border wall and has consistently advocated for more aggressive action to address the security concerns at the border. He reiterated his stance on Wednesday, saying that “delay equals danger” when it comes to addressing the issue.
“We can’t keep kicking the can down the road,” Graham said. “We can’t keep saying ‘we’ll deal with it next week, we’ll deal with it next month, we’ll deal with it next year.’ We need to deal with it now.”
Graham’s comments come as Trump has been facing mounting criticism for his handling of the crisis, including the growing numbers of migrants at the border and the administration’s response to a recent report detailing the mistreatment of migrant children at a border detention center.
The senator’s words of warning also come as Congress prepares to head into its summer recess, with the border security bill set to be the last major piece of legislation considered before lawmakers take a break.