HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielson toured the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Advanced Training Facility Wednesday.
Vice President Pence spoke to a room full of agents. He expressed the Trump administration’s support of federal law enforcement and thanked them for their patience during the partial government shutdown.
Proud to meet with brave men & women of @CBP today at their West Virginia training facility where every year more than 17,000 border patrol & law enforcement agents come to train to serve on our front lines.
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) March 13, 2019
“The president and I are grateful for the men and women of CBP (Customs and Border Patrol), DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and all who enforce our laws. Especially I want to say thank you to all of you who stood tall and stayed on mission through those 35 days. You never wavered.”
Vice President Pence and Nielson viewed training simulations and demonstrations. The training included apprehension techniques, which Pence said have proven to be successful.
“The Border Patrol has apprehended more than 268,000 people since the beginning of the fiscal years. That’s a 100% increase from last year. Everyday we don’t secure our border, we’re allowing this crisis to worsen and lives to be endangered and exploited.”
A vote against @POTUS’ emergency declaration is a vote against border security. A vote against the President’s emergency declaration is a vote to deny the humanitarian & security crisis at our southern border. pic.twitter.com/9pYcj4k44l
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) March 13, 2019
Vice President Pence focused heavily on the drug epidemic across America. He mentioned several drug busts near the U.S./Mexico border in recent months.
“This crisis is affecting every community in America. President Trump and our entire administration are determined to confront it. To make sure that you have the resources and the support that you have and that you need to accomplish the mission that each of you have stepped forward to achieve for the American people.”
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Advanced Training Facility is located along US Route 340 between Harpers Ferry and Charles Town.
A full transcript of Vice President’s remarks is available here.