Candidates seeking the two seats representing Montana in Congress have prioritized the federal government’s management of the U.S.-Mexico border as one of the key issues of this year’s campaign season
As part of our 2024 Election Guide project, Montana Free Press asked candidates for the U.S. House where they stand on border issues via a written questionnaire. Here’s how they responded. These answers were lightly edited for grammar but are otherwise presented verbatim and were not subjected to fact-checking.
WHAT WE ASKED:
What if any action should Congress take to change how the nation controls movement across the U.S.-Mexico border?
EASTERN DISTRICT (MT-02) CANDIDATES
Seeking to represent the district that includes Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Havre, and Miles City.
With incumbent Rep. Matt Rosendale’s decision not to seek re-election, Montana’s Republican-leaning eastern congressional district has no shortage of contenders vying for the open seat. Republican candidates in particular are generally striking aggressive postures on border issues, with many levying explicit criticism at the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and calling for the resumption of former President Donald Trump’s effort to build a physical wall along the entirety of the nearly-2,000-mile southern border.
Elsie Arntzen
State superintendent of public instruction, Republican
Quite frankly, improving our national security along the border and reforming our immigration system is the top priority for Montana and America. Since Joe Biden took office there have been over 7.2 million illegals who invaded the U.S. through our southern border. That number is greater than the population of 36 states. First and foremost, Congress must secure the border by finishing the wall and implementing technologies that will assist our Border Patrol agents. Congress must reauthorize the Remain in Mexico policy put in place by President Trump and end “catch and release.” The backlog in the immigration courts must be addressed so that a free pass isn’t given to criminals, terrorists and drug dealers. Finally, America must deport illegal migrants who have flagrantly broken U.S. law, by dealing drugs, stealing property and assaulting and murdering U.S. citizens.