WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) issued the following statement following the announcement by the Department of Homeland Security to invoke legal waivers that will allow construction to continue on the border security fence between the United States and Mexico.

Congress authorized construction of 700 miles of fencing in 2006. Bureaucratic red tape and lawsuits have slowed or stopped construction of much of the fence. DHS reports that it has already constructed 309 miles of fencing, and these waivers will help DHS meet its goal of constructing a total of 670 miles of fencing by the end of this year.

"I applaud the Department of Homeland Security for moving forward with the construction of the remaining portions of the border security fence," said Tiahrt. "Constructing this fence is an issue of national security that will help curb the flow of dangerous narcotics, human trafficking, and crime into the United States.

"It is important that we know who crosses our borders and that those who mean us harm are denied access to our country. We must secure our borders, and the decision to move forward with the security fence construction is the right step toward that goal.

"While this is a tremendous step forward, I will continue to pushing DHS to ensure every American border is completely secure. Maintaining control over our borders is an important aspect of our sovereignty."