April 17, 2024

Manchin Questions U.S. Attorney General On Border Security Concerns, FISA Reauthorization

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on holding Mexico accountable for drug trafficking into the U.S., the ability of President Biden to declare a National Emergency to shut down the Southern Border and the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

On holding Mexico accountable for drug trafficking across the U.S. Southern Border:

“Certainly, the Southern Border is the greatest threat we face right now. It has been more detrimental to our security than anything we’ve seen in modern history,” Senator Manchin said in part. “We haven’t taken enough action on Mexico with the tools we have. Opioids coming into the country have devastated my home state. Is there anything that can be done to threaten their participation as a member of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement? That would be of great economic concern in their country and I think they would respond.”

On the ability of President Biden to declare a National Emergency to shut down the Southern Border:

“Does the President have the ability as an executive order to declare a National Emergency and shut it down?” Senator Manchin questioned. “I’ve been encouraging him in every way I possibly can to use the rules and tools we have and executive powers to shut it down until we get a handle on it…The President had no problem whatsoever declaring an executive order to relieve student debt. And that has been challenged in court but he does it anyway.”

On the reauthorization of FISA:

“This week, the Senate's going to take up a two-year extension to FISA. Some groups have raised concerns that the reauthorization the House passed would expand the scope of who could be targeted under Section 702 by changing the definition of electronic communication service providers. I, for one, do not have those concerns because we have expanded upon how we communicate in different ways and we should be looking at everything to protect our country. Do you have concerns?” Senator Manchin questioned.

A video of Senator Manchin’s questioning can be found here.