SW Arkansas Times

The Subcommittee on Federal Lands convened to discuss the Federal Lands Amplified Security for the Homeland (FLASH) Act. The legislative hearing addressed issues related to federal border lands and aimed to mitigate environmental damage caused by illegal immigration. Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany, representing Wisconsin, expressed concerns about the "border invasion" under President Joe Biden's administration, which he claims led to significant harm, including pollution and fires.

"The Democrats’ border invasion under Joe Biden led to significant environmental damage on federal borderlands, including millions of pounds of trash, illegal campfires, and human waste," Tiffany stated. He emphasized that the subcommittee is taking measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. According to him, Representative Juan Ciscomani's legislation aims to curb further environmental harm from illegal immigration while increasing penalties for those who pollute these areas.

H.R. 1820, known as the FLASH Act and introduced by Rep. Ciscomani from Arizona, proposes several measures to protect federal border lands from crises associated with illegal immigration. These include constructing roads for better law enforcement access, allowing states to build temporary barriers on federal land, and directing policies to reduce trash accumulation due to illegal crossings.

Additional provisions focus on preventing wildfires initiated by migrants and maintaining initiatives from the Trump administration regarding hazardous fuel management along the southern border. The act also seeks to prohibit housing illegal migrants or cultivating cannabis illegally on federal lands.

Members of the House Committee on Natural Resources have observed firsthand the impacts of illegal immigration during a visit to Sierra Vista, Arizona in February 2024 within Ciscomani’s district.

During today's hearing, testimonies were provided by Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement officials who deal directly with challenges at the border.

For more information on this topic, additional resources are available online.