By MITCH MCCONNELL

U.S. Senator

A strong nation needs strong borders.

Recently, far-left extremists here in Louisville have joined a movement to abolish the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and erase our immigration laws and our national borders.

They call themselves socialists, which is an idea I thought we’d sent to the ash heap of history.

Socialism controls every personal, economic, and political decision in your life, destroying any incentive to work hard and succeed. It goes against America’s core values. Worse still, these radical ideas have found powerful allies, even in potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.

Kentuckians, on the other hand, overwhelmingly reject socialism and open borders.

I recently visited the ICE office here in Louisville to personally express my support to the brave men and women who help enforce our immigration laws. Every day, these agents protect our country from drug cartels, gangs, and sex traffickers who illegally entered the United States and pose a threat to our families.

Our nation doesn’t need socialists who attack the foundation on which it was built and who use intimidation to force their fringe ideas onto the vast majority who disagree with them.

You may have seen, these hecklers have targeted me at local restaurants. I can assure you I will not be intimidated by them. Instead, we need stronger borders and law enforcement to protect our national interests and keep us safe.