House Speaker Paul Ryan was spotted riding a horse by the U.S.-Mexico border during his trip to the Lone Star state Wednesday.
The trip marks the Wisconsin Republican’s first visit to the border, where he was joined by Department of Homeland Security officials, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Texas Rep. John Carter, Politico reports.
The group was led along the Rio Grande river “to examine the challenges of securing the border and learn more about the issues facing border communities,” Ryan spokesman Doug Andres told NBC news.
WATCH:
Speaker Paul Ryan riding a horse during his first trip to the US-Mexico border… pic.twitter.com/bbHV0RSR1Z
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) February 22, 2017
GOP leadership has stated they plan to move on legislation to fund President Donald Trump’s border wall, which is projected to cost cost between $12 billion and $15 billion, this year. Trump and congressional Republicans have repeatedly stressed the importance of securing the border.
The trip follows the administration’s call for immigration laws to be more heavily enforced. Under the Department of Homeland Security’s enforcement plan, Customs and Border Protection agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are expected to identify, arrest and deport illegal immigrants in a timely manner.
Ryan has been critical about mass deportation policies in the past, having said the country needs to protect its borders while crafting a “humane solution” during a CNN town hall in January.
Trump is expected to request the funds to build the barrier from Congress in coming weeks.
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