Staten Island Reporter

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today released the following statement regarding her vote against the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act that included the second tranche of government funding bills for FY24:

Malliotakis stood firm in her decision, stating, "Today I voted against the second appropriations package because it funds the continuation of President Biden’s border policies that are unsustainable, unsafe and unfair to New Yorkers and all Americans." She expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the allocated resources, questioning, "What is the point of having more border patrol agents if they cannot do their job to detain and deport illegal immigrants, and more detention beds when we have thousands that are going unused because this administration chooses to release individuals into our country’s interior instead."

Highlighting specific grievances, Malliotakis criticized the legislation for allocating "$650 million to continue transporting and housing illegal immigrants, including criminals, in cities like mine, much to the opposition of my constituents." She emphasized the negative impact of such policies, citing incidents of violence and crime, stating, "We've already seen stabbings, robberies, assaults, attacks on our police officers and over 1,200 arrests at existing shelters in New York City. It has to stop."

Malliotakis attributed the challenges faced by the Department of Homeland Security to leadership and policy issues, remarking, "At the end of the day, the Department of Homeland Security’s problem is not one of lack of funding, it is one of bad leadership, bad policy and bad choices made by President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas who have used their discretion and authority to dismantle our border." Expressing her stance firmly, she declared, "I refuse to give the Biden Administration more money to allow more criminals and illegal immigrants into our country to wreak havoc in our city at the taxpayers’ expense."

In conclusion, Malliotakis lamented the missed opportunity for congressional action, stating, "Congress has the power of the purse and I believe this was a wasted opportunity to force the Biden Administration’s hand and secure tangible border security measures to protect the safety and security of the American people."