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Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, on Wednesday introduced legislation to remove federal funding from U.S. nonprofit organizations that help facilitate illegal entry into the United States.

The Stop Federal Funding for Human Trafficking and Smuggling Act would direct the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to require federal contracts and grants to be contingent on organizations certifying that they are not involved in either human trafficking or human smuggling, fraud or bribery at the U.S. border.

REP. GOODEN, IN BORDER VISIT, SLAMS SECRECY BEHIND ORGANIZED OPERATION TO MOVE MIGRANTS INTO US

If that certification is not done, then the funding must be repaid to the government. It would apply to any nonprofit awarded federal funding or that has a contract or award with the federal government. The legislation is co-sponsored by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., House Budget Committee ranking member Jason Smith, R-Mo., and 19 other House Republicans.

The bill comes as part of Goodens own investigations into what he sees as a secretive and "very organized" operation to bring illegal migrants into the U.S. and facilitate their transport across the country as part of what he described as an "invasion."

"The Biden administration is working with nonprofits, U.S. corporations, and international agencies to operate an illegal immigration network that spans from South America to every community in the United States," Gooden said in a statement. "Taxpayer dollars should not be subsiding a mass invasion of our country and it is time to put a stop to this corrupt operation."

The bill has the support of groups including Citizens for Renewing America and the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

"As President Trump's budget director, I saw first-hand how taxpayer money goes to fund activities that are immoral and deeply offensive to the American people," Russ Vought, president of Citizens for Renewing America and former White House OMB director, said in a statement.

"Many NGOs openly encourage the flaunting of our border and immigration laws, providing 'how-to' guidance on how to come to the United States illegally, and then reward such activity by facilitating and funding housing, food, utilities, and legal support. The net effect of these activities either directly promotes or provides cover for human trafficking operations, and the exploitation of men, women, and children at the border under the guise of helping migrants," he said. "I support Rep. Gooden's efforts to make sure groups that facilitate these activities are no longer funded with the hard-earned tax dollars supplied by the forgotten men and women of America."

Last year, Gooden obtained a packet given to migrants that included flight information, copies of the Notice to Appear from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a list of pro bono legal service providers, maps of major cities in the U.S. and information and legal assistance in Spanish.

It also included a letter from the nonprofit to be handed to TSA officials, urging them to be allowed onto a flight with the limited ID they have that the letter says should be adequate for them to be searched in the Secure Flight program.

BORDER PATROL AGENTS GET INTO HEATED EXCHANGE WITH LEADERSHIP DURING MAYORKAS VISIT, LEAKED VIDEO SHOWS

"It seems very organized and premeditated and I would like to know who is behind the funding for this organization. Is the state of California mismanaging federal funds? Are private entities funding this? Are foreign organizations funding these private entities?" Gooden said to Fox News at the time.

Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, visits the southern border in San Diego. (Rep. Lance Gooden's office)

Gooden has also pushed the State Department on information about a program to issue travel loans to refugees, warning that it gives nongovernmental organizations a "vested financial interest" in pushing the U.S. to bring in more refugees. His inquiries also revealed that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is allowing illegal immigrants to use civil immigration arrest warrants to board planes.

The legislation comes as the crisis at the southern border which saw approximately 1.7 million migrant encounters in FY 2021 and more than 178,000 migrants in December alone seems set to continue in 2022.

Republicans have been blaming the Biden administration for the crisis, particularly its ending of Trump-era border protections and reduced interior enforcement priorities. The Biden administration has put the increase in numbers down to a combination of the Trump administrations ending of legal asylum pathways and also "root causes" like violence and poverty in Central America.

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In leaked audio of a meeting between Border Patrol agents and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the DHS chief admitted that the job for them was getting harder.

"The job has not gotten any easier over the last few months, and it was very, very difficult throughout 2021," Mayorkas told the agents, according to Townhall. "I know apprehending families and kids is not what you signed up to do. And now we got a composition that is changing even more with Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and the like, it just gets more difficult,"

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Rep. Gooden introduces bill to defund nonprofits that facilitate illegal immigration - Fox News

Hanford salon owner Adam Medeiros has joined a long list of candidates seeking the congressional office currently held by Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford.

Medeiros describes himself as a Christian Republican who is focused on supporting law enforcement, water storage and immigration reform. He was inspired to run for office after Valadaos vote to impeach then-President Donald Trump for incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

I know our current representative, and I know its a tough job, but I just dont think they are representing the people that elected them, Medeiros said of Valadao in a phone interview with The Californian. The vote to impeach Donald Trump I just dont believe our representative acted to represent the people.

Valadao has said his vote to impeach, which ultimately fell 10 votes short of a guilty verdict, was a vote of conscience. But Medeiros insisted the conservative district Valadao represents largely supported acquitting Trump.

Medeiros moved to the United States from the the Azores islands, which are governed by Portugal, when he was 2 years old. He says he supports legal immigration, but wants to clamp down on the open borders he claims are harming the country.

Although he added hes not a fan of Trumps personality, he supports his economic and foreign policies. Under President Joe Biden, Medeiros characterized Washington as forcing socialist policies onto Americans.

I really feel the need to get to Washington is really to push back on the socialist agenda that they are literally shoving down our throats, he said. Theyve taken away so many of our liberties and our rights that weve got to put a stop to it.

The new 22nd Congressional District includes much of Bakersfield and northwest Kern County, along with parts of southern Tulare and Kings counties. Several candidates have already announced their intention to take on Valadao, including Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, Delano Mayor Bryan Osorio and Fresno businessman Chris Mathys.

The district has flip-flopped between Republican and Democrat control for the last three elections, all of which have been close races. It is considered a must-win district by both political parties, who are gearing up for another close election.

You can reach Sam Morgen at 661-395-7415. You may also follow him on Twitter @smorgenTBC.

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Hanford salon owner Adam Medeiros adds name to list of candidates taking on Valadao - The Bakersfield Californian

HEALTH CARE

Johnson & Johnson hired Brick Street Strategy to lobby on medical supply chain issues and business process reform. Mike Copher, former Republican staff director for the House Veterans Affairs Committee, will work on the account.

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association hired Bose Public Affairs Group to lobby on drug pricing issues. David Crane, former domestic policy adviser to former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), will work on the account.

The Federation of American Hospitals hired Invariant LLC to increase awareness about the private hospital trade group in Congress. Katie Wise, former legislative director for Rep. Vern BuchananVernon Gale BuchananMORE (R-Fla.), will work on the account.

TECHNOLOGY

Verizon Communications Inc. hired Capitol Counsel LLC to lobby on spectrum, broadband infrastructure and corporate taxation. Jeffrey Carroll, former Democratic staff director for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, will work on the account.

Intel Corp. hired Locke Lord LLP to lobby on free trade legislation, immigration reform and other issues. Sarah Feldpausch, former policy adviser at the Department of Education, will work on the account.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

BlackRock Inc. hired Daly Consulting Group to lobby on financial services issues. Justin Daly, former Republican senior counsel for the House Financial Services Committee, will work on the account.

AARP Inc. hired LXR Group to lobby on banking, consumer finance, capital marks and other financial services issues. Michael Canning, former senior policy adviser for former Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), will work on the account.

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What can we learn from the 1918 flu pandemic? Are there good things that can help us out of the current Covid pandemic, or are the lessons from 1918 that show we have more problems to come?

The Thom Hartmann Program covers diverse topics including immigration reform, government intrusion, privacy, foreign policy, and domestic issues. More people listen to or watch the TH program than any other progressive talk show in the world! Join them. #MorefromThom

The Thom Hartmann Program is on Free Speech TV every weekday from 12-3 pm EST.

Missed an episode? Check out Thom Hartmann Playlist on our Youtube channel or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change.

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@Thom_Hartmann 1918 1918 flu pandemic Covid pandemic The Thom Hartmann Program

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Could The End of the 1918 Flu Pandemic Answer COVID-19? (w/ John M. Barry) - Free Speech TV

Immigration activists rally near the White House on Oct. 7, 2021. The group demonstrated for immigration reform and urged President Biden to authorize a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption

Immigration activists rally near the White House on Oct. 7, 2021. The group demonstrated for immigration reform and urged President Biden to authorize a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

President Biden took swift action on his first day in office and reversed several of his predecessor's harsh immigration policies.

He signed an executive order to halt construction of the southern border wall, lifted a travel ban on several predominantly Muslim countries, and unveiled a plan to put millions of undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship.

But a year later, that legislation has gone nowhere and many of his other efforts have stalled, frustrating supporters and energizing opponents ahead of midterm elections.

"In the beginning, we really had him like at this pedestal, like he's going to do so much for us," said Yair Castellanos, a 20-year-old undocumented immigrant who works as a community organizer.

From their home in North Carolina, Castellanos and his family watched Biden's inauguration with a sense of relief. He thought maybe he'd have a better chance to go to college with Biden in office. He hoped Biden would fight for a path to citizenship and also push for other protections, like work permits for him and his parents.

"And then just little things like, no, no reform coming out, nothing being pushed," Castellanos said. "No little steps like the license or the permits. No...anything...really."

Yair Castellanos had high hopes for the Biden presidency. The 20-year-old undocumented immigrant says he's disappointed by the lack of progress on immigration. Courtesy of Yair Castellanos hide caption

Yair Castellanos had high hopes for the Biden presidency. The 20-year-old undocumented immigrant says he's disappointed by the lack of progress on immigration.

Young people like Castellanos helped mobilize voters for Biden, even when they couldn't vote themselves. Many now feel let down by Biden and the Democrats, who they feel haven't pushed hard enough to deliver on the promises made.

Greisa Martnez Rosas, executive director of United We Dream, says Democrats can't treat young people as an ATM for votes "without feeling that they have to work for it."

Martnez says Democrats need to fight harder for legislation to protect the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country, and she points to key parts of former President Donald Trump's policies that Biden has kept in place, including a pandemic order allowing the U.S. to turn away most migrants, and another requiring asylum seekers to remain in Mexico until their court dates.

"It's easy to promise us something when we're in the midst of a difficult and historic moment like the Trump administration," she said. "But what really defines someone's character is what they're able to do beyond their words and actually deliver."

The Biden administration has cited the ongoing pandemic for keeping the health policy, known as Title 42, and argues the courts prevented the administration from ending the so-called Remain in Mexico policy.

White House officials say they're continuing to work on measures that would protect and provide work permits for families like Castellanos'.

White House spokesman Vedant Patel said Biden reversed many of the previous administration's harmful policies, including ending the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries and scrapping Trump's rule that made it harder for people receiving government benefits to obtain green cards. He also created a task force to help reunite families separated by the Trump administration.

"The President has made clear that restoring order, fairness, and humanity to our immigration system are priorities for this Administration," Patel told NPR in a statement. "Our immigration system is outdated and in bad need of reform; But this Administration is committed to working day in and day out to provide relief to immigrants and bring our immigration system into the 21st century."

President Biden holds his first White House news conference on March 25, 2021. He faced many questions about whether his policies were contributing to a surge in migration. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

President Biden holds his first White House news conference on March 25, 2021. He faced many questions about whether his policies were contributing to a surge in migration.

The reality is that the Biden administration came in with very high expectations, says Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum. He said steps the administration has taken on the issue, like focusing immigration enforcement on public safety threats, will lead to more improvements in the future.

But, with the midterms approaching, Noorani is also urging the administration to think beyond its base and reach out to more independent voters and even some conservatives who opposed Trump's harsh immigration policies but still have concerns about the southern border.

"President Biden needs to return to those voters and say, 'You know what? I'm going to advance constructive, pragmatic solutions in immigration,' " Noorani said. "And not address immigration as if it's only an issue of concern or importance to the left."

And that's where Republicans also see an opportunity.

Leading Republicans, like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, have been traveling to the border and making the issue a signature part of their election or reelection campaigns.

They blame the surge of migrants at the border on Biden's approach, including rolling back some of Trump's border policies.

Biden's challenges are reflected in surveys. A recent Morning Consult/Politico poll found that 56% of registered voters disapprove of how Biden has handled immigration, while a CNBC/Change Research Poll found that 69% disapprove of his handling of the issue.

Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist who's advised Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, says immigration is a chance for Republicans to draw a "bright line."

"Biden campaigned as a competent moderate 'You can trust me, the adults are back in charge' you know, that sort of vibe," Jennings said. "And I don't think anybody looking at the border is saying, 'Yeah, the adults are back in charge.' "

As for Castellanos, he's just trying to make the best of the situation he has. He knows things could be worse if Trump were still in office or if he runs again.

"If Trump comes back in, that's going to be that pressure that was on for those four years of, 'Oh no, what if one day my mom is driving and she gets pulled over, like I may never see her again?' " Castellanos said. "Whereas if maybe Biden is still in the presidency, I'm not as fearful of that happening."

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Biden presidency 1 year in: Youth disappointed on immigration - NPR