You do not have to live in Texas or Arizona to feel the effects of an unsecured southern border. Florida has become one of the top destinations for migrants entering the country — both those arriving through legal channels and those who have crossed illegally. Fentanyl flowing across the border has claimed lives in Hillsborough County. Human trafficking networks operate up the I-75 corridor. And the strain on public services, housing, and schools is felt in communities across Manatee and Hillsborough counties.
The question voters in District 16 are asking is simple: what is Congress actually doing about it?
What Has Congress Done — and Failed to Do
The honest answer is that Congress has repeatedly failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Attempts in 2013, 2018, and again in 2024 all collapsed for different reasons — some because of genuine policy disagreements, others because of political maneuvering. The result is an immigration system broken by both parties' inaction: under-resourced immigration courts with multi-year backlogs, visa categories that do not match labor market needs, and a border that oscillates between crisis and managed chaos depending on which administration is in office.
A Commonsense Approach to Border Security
John Peters believes that a secure border and a functional legal immigration system are not mutually exclusive — they are complementary. Enforcement only works when legal pathways are clear, fast, and accessible.
Peters supports:
- Fully funding Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Finishing physical and technological border infrastructure
- Cracking down on fentanyl smuggling and human trafficking networks
- Streamlining the legal immigration process so it does not take years
- Ending the abuse of the asylum system by those who are not genuine asylum seekers
What Floridians Deserve From Their Representative
Florida's 16th District needs a congressman who will go to Washington and actually legislate — not just give speeches. John Peters will push for border security funding, work across the aisle when it serves the people of this district, and hold the executive branch accountable for enforcing immigration law consistently and humanely.