U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, a Texas Republican, says President Trump's border wall proposal is "a third-century solution to a 21st-century problem."
"Taking action for action’s sake rarely leads to positive results," he said in a news release. "Our leaders have the solemn obligation to know the proper steps to take before acting upon them."
Hurd represents the state's 23rd Congressional District, which includes parts of San Antonio and extends all the way to the state's western border. The district, one of the largest in the nation, includes hundreds of miles of the U.S. border with Mexico.
"I agree with [U.S. Homeland Security] Secretary John Kelly’s comments during his confirmation hearing that a wall does not solve our security problems," Hurd said. "In fact, building a wall from sea to shining sea would be the most expensive and least effective way to secure the border."
He praised Trump for viewing "protecting our borders as seriously as Congress does." But he also was clear that he thought the approach was incorrect.
"For the past eight years, we had an administration with a one-size-fits-all approach to border security," he said. "We must change the strategy, not simply adopt a different one-size-fits-all solution."
"Each sector of the border faces unique geographical, cultural and technological challenges that would be best addressed with a flexible, sector-by-sector approach that empowers the Border Patrol agents on the ground with the resources they need. What you need in San Diego is very different from what you need in Eagle Pass, Texas."
In the U.S. House, Hurd serves as vice chair of the Maritime and Border Security Subcommittee on the Committee for Homeland Security. He's also the chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
