Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) joined a group of his Republican colleagues and former government agent Tim Ballard, who inspired the hit film Sound of Freedom, in introducing the Safeguarding Endangered Children, Unaccompanied and at Risk of Exploitation (SECURE) Act of 2023 on Tuesday.
Sound of Freedom tells the true-life story of Ballard, who left his government job to rescue a little girl from sex traffickers in the Colombian jungle.
At a press conference on Capitol Hill, Ballard joined Ogles, U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), and others to introduce the SECURE Act.
If enacted, the bill would require the current administration to “locate, establish contact with, conduct wellness checks on, and investigate any suspicion of human trafficking related to the 85,000 unaccompanied migrant children it has lost contact with in the United States,” according to Smith’s office.
Ogles, who recently traveled unannounced to the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona, told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference that “countless women and children will be raped today” due to the actions of the Biden administration.
“Every murder, every rape, every assault, and every burglary that takes place in this country at the hands of illegals, the Biden Administration is coupable,” Ogles added. “Roughly 85,000 unaccompanied minors that were let loose by this country are now being victimized.”
“I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. And like Tim and like Chris, I will continue to fight for those that are being victimized, those that are being trafficked – and ultimately, the first step in a solution is securing the border. Regardless of where you are at on the immigration issue itself. These children are here because the wall has literally been cut down – and Biden, that’s your fault,” Ogles said.
The Tennessee congressman added on Twitter, “I’m proud to be fighting alongside Rep. Chris Smith and @TimBallard for the safety of thousands of unaccompanied children who have been abandoned by the Biden Administration. The SECURE Act is a necessary step to protecting all of God’s precious children.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
