Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday, expressing his gratitude for the Trump administration and DHS’s work on border security and outlining his priorities for the department under Secretary Noem’s leadership.
Senator Scott’s letter emphasizes a contrast with what he calls the “dangerous open-border policies of the previous administration” and focuses on building upon DHS’s actions to protect American families.
READ: Florida Sen. Rick Scott Urges SEC Nominee To Crack Down On ‘Non-Compliant’ Chinese Companies
His key priorities include:
- End “Catch & Release” and Reinstate Border Security Programs: Senator Scott urges the end of “Catch & Release” and the reinstatement of programs like “Remain in Mexico” and “Safe Third Country” policies, along with the establishment of a checkpoint management office.
- Combat Drug and Human Trafficking: He calls for expanding Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maritime authority, implementing stronger background checks for migrant sponsors, and prioritizing the recovery of missing migrant children.
- Improve Disaster Response and Cybersecurity: Senator Scott advocates for improved disaster recovery procedures and enhanced cybersecurity protection, particularly against threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
- Improve Disaster Response and Cybersecurity: Senator Scott advocates for improved disaster recovery procedures and enhanced cybersecurity protection, particularly against threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
READ: Florida Sen. Rick Scott Intros U.S. Citrus Protection Act To Ban Chinese Citrus Imports
He urges Secretary Noem to support the following specific actions:
- Return DHS to Its Core Mission: Prioritize the United States Secret Service (USSS) investigation on assassination attempts against President Trump and publicly report findings.
- Secure Our Territorial Borders Against Illegal Immigration: End “Catch & Release,” reinstate the “Remain in Mexico” program, and reinstate the “Safe Third Country” policy. He also calls for establishing a Checkpoint Program Management Office (CPMO) within the U.S. Border Patrol.
- Fully Implement Interior Enforcement: Facilitate partnerships with state and local governments to expand detention capacity, increase the number of 287(g) agreements, and prohibit federal funds to sanctuary cities and NGOs that facilitate illegal immigration. He also calls for enforcing the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility.
- Crack Down on Drug and Human Trafficking: Work with Congress to expand CBP and Air and Marine Operations’ (AMOs’) maritime authority, establish background checks for migrant sponsors, and prioritize the search and safe return of unaccompanied migrant children lost under the Biden administration.
- Improve Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts at FEMA: Establish an advisory group to assess and enhance procedures for overseeing debris removal contracts and require advance contracts for debris removal to be eligible for federal funds reimbursement.
- Return Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to its Core Mission: Prioritize protecting cybersecurity and critical infrastructure against cyberattacks and investigate and publicly report on how DHS “weaponized” CISA to censor Americans online.
- Return Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to its Core Mission: Prioritize protecting cybersecurity and critical infrastructure against cyberattacks and investigate and publicly report on how DHS “weaponized” CISA to censor Americans online.
Senator Scott concludes his letter by expressing his desire to collaborate with Secretary Noem on these issues.
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