SAN ANTONIO — In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Homeland Security said they saw 2.4 million encounters at the Southwest Border, which is a 40% increase from 2021.
Congressmen Henry Cuellar and Tony Gonzales said we need to secure the border.
"10,000-12,000 people coming to the Southern Border a day, it's just a number that we can't sustain," said Cuellar.
Cuellar said we have to do a much better job at securing the border. He said a huge majority of migrants coming in claiming asylum, will not be approved when they see a judge.
"90 percent are going to be rejected, so my question is, why are we letting all these people in?" Cuellar asks.
Cuellar added many coming in are taking advantage of the asylum laws, which are very clear. To seek asylum, you have to have state persecution based on nationality, race, religion, political beliefs or part of a social class.
"If your coming in for crime or your looking for a job or a family member, I understand all that but it doesn't qualify you," said Cuellar.
Cuellar said there are different solutions to securing the border.
"There's some people that say don't make any changes, just let them keep coming in, that's wrong. Then you got some people close it completely, no," said Cuellar.
Cuellar said he stands in the middle, calling for strong border security but respecting the migrants and giving them quick due process.
"If they don't qualify, you deport them immediately. You got to put money for deportations," said Cuellar.
On Sunday's CBS Face The Nation, Congressman Tony Gonzales addressed what he calls an open border crisis. Gonzales said it's imperative that the Senate, House and President work together to come up with a national security package, that puts the country first.
"In my district it's pure chaos. People are upset. They are upset because their lives have been turned upside down. My district is predominately Hispanic. Many people are first and second generation American's, but they're tired. They're tired of the high speed chases. They're tired of their schools going into lockdown," said Gonzales.
CBS reports the White House is working on securing the border and is willing to accept drastic limits on raising the credible fear standard for asylum seekers. They are also considering a vast expansion of detention and deportation efforts.
"I think it's a good start, but the devil is in the details. When you start talking about deportation flights are you talking about one flight, or are you talking about 20 flights? Are you taking about only deporting along the border, or from the interior as well?" said Gonzales.