After border visit, Flood says Biden immigration policy has created humanitarian crisis – Lincoln Journal Star
Rep. Tom McClintock of California (left) and Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood talk to rancher John Ladd about his property along the U.S.-Mexico border during a trip to Arizona to look at U.S. border security.
Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska (second from right) receives a briefing from Border Patrol during his trip to Arizona to look at U.S. border security.
Following a two-day congressional delegation trip to the Mexican border in Arizona, Rep. Mike Flood of Norfolk said Thursday that the Biden administration’s “catch-and-release immigration policy has dramatically escalated the humanitarian crisis on our southern border.”
“From human trafficking to fentanyl smuggling, there is a real human cost to the Biden administration’s failure to enforce our nation’s laws and secure our border,” the 1st District Republican congressman said.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues to push back on these failed policies so that we can protect our communities and keep America safe,” he said.
While he was in Arizona, Flood said, he received briefings from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, visited the border wall and “heard directly from landowners and community members whose way of life has been impacted by illegal immigration.”
While the Biden administration has curtailed construction of a border wall, “illegal border crossings have surged,” the congressman said.
Southwest border encounters rose from 40,929 in July of 2020 to 199,976 in July of 2022, Flood said.
The delegation’s trip to the border was led by Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona.
Flood was elected to fill the 1st District seat vacated by former Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry in a special election on June 28 and will serve the remaining six months of Fortenberry’s term.
Flood is the Republican nominee for the following two-year term and will meet state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, the Democratic nominee, in a rematch at the Nov. 8 general election.
Fortenberry resigned from the eastern Nebraska seat following his conviction on charges of lying to federal officials about illegal foreign contributions to his 2016 reelection campaign.
Top Journal Star Photos for August
LINCOLN, NEB. – 08/07/2022 – Arianna points to a rocket pop on a ice cream truck at Holmes Lake Park, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star
Parade watchers race to collect candy thrown during the Wilber Czech Festival on Saturday.
Grammy award winning American blues singer Bonnie Raitt performs at the Pinewood Bowl on Tuesday.
Saltdogs third baseman Ryan Long (left) beats the tag as Gary SouthShore second baseman Michael Woodworth drops the ball on Monday at Haymarket Park.
Fair attendees ride a motorcycle-themed merry-go-round during the Lancaster County Super Fair on Sunday.
A 26-year-old man told Lincoln Police he was “beaten, burned with a blowtorch and branded” with the word “thief” after he was ambushed by two men amid a drug deal at a warehouse near Interstate 80 and 56th Street, Investigator Christopher Schamber said in an arrest affidavit.
Layla Karee (left) comforts Shireen Jardo Alhanto who begins to sob while speaking of her family both missing and deceased during a ceremony to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Yazidi genocide on Wednesday in Malcolm. Alhanto lost two brothers, and 15 members of her family are still missing.
Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson claps hands during practice Monday at Hawks Championship Center.
Nebraska Wesleyan athletic training student Sabrina Ochterbeck is placed in an ice bath by athletic trainers (from left) Terry Adair of Bryan Health, Tyler Rediger of Lincoln Southeast, Bryan Butler of Lincoln Northeast and Charity Rainey of Lincoln High on Friday. With fall practice set to begin Monday, athletic trainers reviewed how to prevent and treat heat illnesses.
Artist Toan Vuong is shown on his front porch with his compositions created using date stamps. Vuong will participate in Porch-Art-Palooza, a sprawling art sale on 30 front porches in the Near South, Everett and South Salt Creek neighborhoods, on Sunday.
Luca Yeager slams down his mug after downing Kool-Aid in a quickest drinking contest, during the Kool-Aid Days Festival, at the Adams County Fair grounds on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Hastings. Thousands of “kids” of all ages gather to celebrate the invention of Kool-Aid®, Nebraska’s Official Soft Drink, by Edwin Perkins in 1927.
Lincoln Northwest High School students, including Noah Foreman (from right), Brohdy Ferguson and Delaney Ahl check out the cafeteria area Monday, Aug. 15, 2022.
Nebraska volleyball head coach John Cook observes the team’s first practice of the season Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Drew Carlson celebrates after winning a competition during the Cornhusker Marching Band Exhibition at Memorial Stadium, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022.
Alex Kuepper rests in the shade after finishing the 150-mile race during the Gravel Worlds on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Lincoln.
Nebraska’s Red team reacts after scoring a point during the Red-White Scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Workers remove the last few tiles of the Pershing Center mural, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. The tiles will be stored until money is raised to restore and reinstall the 763,000-tile mural at another location.
Breckyn Erks observes a Lincoln Pius X football practice while hanging upside-down Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, at Pius X High School.
Work to demolish the home at 2636 Woodscrest Ave. began in earnest on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, to make way for a new home, which owners say will fit into the character of the historic neighborhood.
Anti-abortion demonstrators pray outside the Planned Parenthood clinic near 48th Street and Old Cheney Road on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. A Planned Parenthood official said protest activity outside the clinic has surged since the Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Tramesha Cruse poses for a photo at her restaurant, Lila Mae’s Southern Kitchen and Lounge, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022.
A dog swims in the water during Dog Splash at Star City Shores sponsored by the Lincoln Parks Foundation and the Greater Lincoln Obedience Club on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022.
A kayaker paddles on Holmes Lake on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022.
Nebraska’s Jordan Zade (37) walks off the field after San Diego State scored in the final minute of the game, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at Hibner Stadium.
CeCe Mlady (left), 4, and her sister Grace Mlady, 10, cheer as they try to get the attention of Husker players throwing gifts to the stand before a soccer game between Nebraska and San Diego State on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at Hibner Stadium.
Lincoln Northeast’s Micah Quirie kicks a field goal as teammate Trevor Vocasek holds the ball during practice Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022.
Lincoln Lutheran players gather around the hydration station during practice Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, at Lincoln Lutheran High School.
The Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday, {monthameap} 24, 2022, in Lincoln, NE. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
WarHorse Gaming hopes to open the state’s first licensed casino at Lincoln Race Course in September. Crews continue work to convert the horse race simulcasting space to a temporary gaming floor with 433 slot machines.
LINCOLN, NEB. – 08/26/2022 – Marcee Metzger of Voices of Hope poses for a portrait at the group’s office, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022. NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star
Nebraska’s Hayden Kubik (top, first right) celebrates with her team after scoring the match-ending point of a 3-0 win against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.
Mike Comstock picks up his daughter, Brooklynn Comstock, at the end of the first day of school at Robinson Elementary on Monday. The new school in northeast Lincoln opened two weeks late because of construction issues.
Friday’s game between Lincoln Northwest and Ralston is seen through temporary fencing at Union Bank Stadium. It was the inaugural game at the stadium.
Kearney’s Sawyer Schilke carries the ball as he narrowly avoids a tackle by Lincoln East’s Connor Shelton on Thursday at Seacrest Field.
The family of Hulda Roper, including step-grandson Craig Roper (from left) and stepson Charlie Roper, talk with Lincoln Police Chief Teresa Ewins and Cedars president and CEO Jim Blue as the youth service organization names its conference room after Hulda Roper, the city’s first female police officer.
Sen. Ben Sasse (from left), Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Adrian Smith and Rep. Mike Flood attend the annual federal legislative summit on Thursday at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum.
Mike Meyerle (left) and Steph Meyerle of Beatrice watch Nebraska play Northwestern on Saturday at McKinney’s Irish Pub.
Wahoo coach Trina Christen hugs Jaiden Swanson the Warriors defeated Beatrice in eight innings Tuesday in Beatrice.
Lincoln Pius X players run through a banner before taking on Scottsbluff on Friday at Aldrich Field.
Lincoln East’s Kooper Barnes dances with her teammates before the Spartans took on Norris in the LPS Classic on Saturday at Doris Bair Softball Complex.
Lincoln Southeast’s Gunnar Gottula flips his hair back after taking off his helmet in the fourth quarter against Elkhorn South at Seacrest Field on Friday at Seacrest Field.
Lincoln Lutheran’s Elecea Saathoff (3) tips the ball past Waverly defenders Thursday at Lincoln Lutheran High School.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LJSdon
Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
