WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Committee Republicans sent a third letter to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) calling for a hearing on the crisis at the southern border with Biden Administration officials to hold them accountable for policies fueling the border crisis. Recently there were over 22,000 unaccompanied children in U.S. custody and the costs to American taxpayers are skyrocketing.
“When we first wrote to you on March 4, 2021 about the crisis on the southwest border, there were about 7,000 unaccompanied children in U.S. custody. When we last wrote to you on March 25, 2021, there were 13,000. Recently, there were over 22,000,” wrote the Republican lawmakers. “Once again, we request that you hold a full Committee hearing with Biden Administration officials in order for them to account for the effects of their policies in fueling the border crisis and scrutinize what plans, if any, they have to remedy this dire situation that places vulnerable children into the hands of human smugglers.”
In recent months, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has opened more than a dozen emergency intake shelters to house unaccompanied children on sites ranging from army bases to convention centers. The Biden Administration has already awarded $3 billion to contractors to house the unaccompanied children and it is reported that the Administration will need another $4 billion before the end of the fiscal year to cover the costs of caring for unaccompanied children in custody.
“As we noted in our previous letter, this Committee held multiple hearings during the Trump Administration on the treatment of children at the border. It is surprising that you have failed to schedule a hearing during the current border crisis created by the Biden Administration, especially as conditions continue to deteriorate and more and more taxpayer funds are required. Yet again, we urge you to schedule a hearing to conduct oversight of the crisis at the southwest border and the Biden Administration’s plans to get control of the situation and stem the surge. Our Committee should not stand on the sidelines simply because a Democrat occupies the White House,” concluded the lawmakers.