Democrats, listen to law enforcement—not your base

“I’m here to say thank you,” Vice President Mike Pence told U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on Friday in Baltimore, Maryland. “But I’m also here to learn more about the work that each and every one of you do.”

Our immigration law enforcement officers have one of the toughest jobs in America. They are the first lines of defense against drug cartels, human traffickers, and other forms of transnational crime. It’s dangerous work that keeps our communities safe.

These officers are the experts when it comes to border security. They know what works and what doesn’t. Politicians should listen to them—not scapegoat them to cover for Congress’ own outdated, ineffective laws.

Congressional Democrats disagree. Amid calls to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement entirely, now immigration officers can’t even make their voices heard. “A briefer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stood outside the closed-door meeting [last] Wednesday while negotiators working on a homeland security spending deal heard from border experts,” The Washington Times reports.

“The ICE briefer never made it in the room.”

Dozens of sheriffs arrived on Capitol Hill today to plead with Democrats not to cut resources for immigration enforcement. This afternoon, President Donald J. Trump met with a group of these local law enforcement leaders at the White House. “This is what we do,” one sheriff told reporters in the room. “If you do anything to cut ICE funding, you devastate our communities.”

Watch: Call it whatever you want, but without a wall, “it’s not going to work.”

President Trump: “This is a humanitarian and security crisis.”

American artificial intelligence will lead the world

Today, President Trump launched his American AI Initiative, directing Federal agencies to prioritize investments in the research and development of artificial intelligence.

“Continued American leadership in Artificial Intelligence is of paramount importance to maintaining the economic and national security of the United States,” the President says. Indeed, this investment is crucial to creating the industries of the future, such as autonomous cars, industrial robots, algorithms for disease diagnosis, and more.

AI promises great benefits for American workers, with the potential to improve safety and increase productivity. Additionally, maintaining America’s global leadership in AI will ensure that the technology is developed in a manner consistent with our Nation’s values, policies, and priorities—including the civil liberties of our people.

5 keys to accelerating American leadership in artificial intelligence

Get the facts: President Trump is advancing American AI capabilities