Border Patrol has made 1.7 million border apprehensions, the highest number in the history of the United States
WASHINGTON — Last week, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), demanding answers as to why the Biden Administration ignored intelligence about a surge of Haitian migrants and what the administration will do to secure our borders and prevent future caravans of migrants from illegally crossing into the U.S. The senator requested that DHS respond to his letter no later than November 19th .
“The Biden administration’s failure to act on intelligence to secure our borders and implement policies to prevent future migrant surges will result in more migrants overwhelming our southern border,” the senator wrote. “In fact, reports indicate another surge of potentially 60,000 migrants are making their way to the southern border. Other reports suggest that an additional caravan will embark for the southern border imminently.”
“Our border is being overrun, placing our brave Border Patrol agents in an impossible situation,” the senator continued. “In order to understand how DHS intends to address the crisis at the southern border, please provide the following information:
- “When did DHS become aware that 30,000 migrants who amassed in Del Rio, Texas, were heading for the southern border? Please provide any intelligence or other information referring or relating to the thousands of migrants who amassed in Del Rio, Texas, in September 2021.
- “Please provide the names and titles of all DHS officials who reviewed or received the reported intelligence or information in July 2021 regarding the travel of thousands of Haitians to the southern border.
- “Why did DHS delay deportations of the Haitian migrants who illegally crossed into Del Rio, Texas in September?
- Please provide all documents and communications referring or relating to this decision.
- “Please provide any information or intelligence DHS has relating to the reported caravan of 60,00 migrants who plan to travel to the southern border, or any other migrant caravan which is planning to travel or currently traveling to the southern border.”
The full letter can be found here and below.
November 5, 2021
The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
Dear Secretary Mayorkas:
The ongoing crisis at our southern border is a direct result of the Biden administration’s dismantling of the Trump administration’s successful border security policies. This year, Border Patrol has made roughly 1.7 million border apprehensions, the highest number in the history of the United States and 1.3 million more apprehensions compared to fiscal year 2020.[1] However, you claimed the United States has experienced “this type of irregular migration many, many times,” and it was “nothing new.”[2] Your denial of reality, coupled with the Biden administration’s open border policies, provides powerful incentives for migrants to enter the United States illegally at our southern border. The resulting chaos jeopardizes national security and the safety of Border Patrol agents.[3]
In the month of September alone, 160,000 illegal aliens were apprehended at the southern border.[4] This included the widely-publicized 30,000 illegal Haitian migrants that amassed under
the International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas.[5] The overwhelming daily deluge of migrants at the southern border is not sustainable and demands immediate action.
Yet, in the case of the surge of the Haitian migrants at the border, it appears that the Biden administration decided to ignore intelligence indicating a potential migrant surge. According to a report, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and DHS’ Office of Intelligence and Analysis “all had information as far back as July indicating that large groups of migrants” would soon arrive at our southern border.[6] Allegedly, “intelligence was not shared widely enough within DHS and across agencies to indicate the size or speed of the group of migrants or that they would all arrive in one location” and “there was a political battle between progressives and others at DHS” about potentially increasing deportations to prepare for the surge.[7] Ultimately, media reports indicate “the progressives won, delaying deportation flights.”[8]
The Biden administration’s failure to act on intelligence to secure our borders and implement policies to prevent future migrant surges will result in more migrants overwhelming our southern border. In fact, reports indicate another surge of potentially 60,000 migrants are making their way to the southern border.[9] Other reports suggest that an additional caravan will embark for the southern border imminently.[10]
Our border is being overrun, placing our brave Border Patrol agents in an impossible situation. In order to understand how DHS intends to address the crisis at the southern border, please provide the following information:
- When did DHS become aware that 30,000 migrants who amassed in Del Rio, Texas, were heading for the southern border? Please provide any intelligence or other information referring or relating to the thousands of migrants who amassed in Del Rio, Texas, in September 2021.
- Please provide the names and titles of all DHS officials who reviewed or received the reported intelligence or information in July 2021 regarding the travel of thousands of Haitians to the southern border.[11]
- Why did DHS delay deportations of the Haitian migrants who illegally crossed into Del Rio, Texas in September?[12]
- Please provide all documents and communications referring or relating to this decision.
- Please provide any information or intelligence DHS has relating to the reported caravan of 60,00 migrants who plan to travel to the southern border, or any other migrant caravan which is planning to travel or currently traveling to the southern border.
Please provide this information as soon as possible but no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 19, 2021. In addition, please brief my office on reported caravans en route to the southern border.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
