Border Protection Bill Soars Through House—Except for One Holdout

In a move that should surprise no one, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., once again positioned herself as the outlier in Congress—this time as the sole vote against cracking down on the cartel-built tunnels sneaking illegal immigrants and drugs across the southern border, as Fox News reported.

The Subterranean Border Defense Act, a bill designed to strengthen U.S. efforts to detect and eliminate these underground passageways, passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support in a 402-1 vote.

The only “no” came from Tlaib, whose office didn’t respond when asked for an explanation. Given her track record, though, it’s not hard to guess why.

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The legislation, spearheaded by Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., and co-sponsored by Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide an annual report to Congress detailing the cartels’ tunnel operations and how federal law enforcement is working to shut them down.

The bill also received backing from six additional House Republicans, including Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee’s subcommittee on border security.

The use of tunnels along the U.S.-Mexico border has skyrocketed in recent years. According to Crane, over 140 cartel tunnels have been discovered since 1990, with an alarming 80% increase in tunnel activity since 2008.

These underground networks are a favored smuggling tactic for drugs, weapons, and illegal immigrants—and the more the U.S. cracks down on surface crossings, the more these tunnels become a security loophole.

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“Since 1990, officials have discovered more than 140 tunnels that have breached the U.S. border, with an 80% increase in tunnel activity occurring since 2008,” Crane stated.

“With border crossings thankfully going down since January, I think it’s safe to assume this will drive threats to our border underground through these tunnels.”

In today’s divided Congress, bipartisan agreements are rare, but this was a no-brainer. Even Correa, a Democrat, acknowledged the importance of stopping cartel infiltration.

“I believe this bill is an important step in the right direction,” Correa said, adding that it “will improve Congress’ efforts to counter illicit cross-border tunnels and hold bad actors accountable.”

Despite the near-unanimous consensus, Tlaib stood alone in opposition. Given her previous votes and rhetoric, it’s fair to wonder where her priorities lie. Is it national security, or is it making life easier for criminal networks exploiting America’s border?

The bill was fast-tracked under suspension of the rules, a method used for legislation expected to pass with overwhelming support. And yet, even on an issue as obvious as cracking down on cartel tunnels, Tlaib refused to get on board.

House Republicans, led by Crane, continue to push for stronger border security measures while the Biden administration drags its feet.

With overwhelming support for this legislation, all eyes will now turn to the Senate, where the question remains: Will Democrats there also stand against border security, or will common sense prevail?