WASHINGTON, DC - House lawmakers have taken a significant step in addressing concerns over national security and terrorism threats at the US-Mexico border. They have subpoenaed Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding information related to the issue.
This move, spearheaded by House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN), comes after more than a year of what lawmakers describe as "stonewalling" by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Chairman Green announced the subpoena on Friday, criticizing President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas for handling border security. Green accused them of failing to secure the borders and comply with laws, which he believes has put the country in growing peril. He stated that Secretary Mayorkas has consistently obstructed congressional oversight and suggested that only a subpoena would compel compliance.
In May 2023, Green, along with the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to DHS requesting information on illegal immigrants arrested at the border who were on the FBI terrorist watch list. Despite multiple follow-ups and attempts to accommodate DHS's schedule, Green claims the committee’s requests remain largely unsatisfied, prompting the issuance of the subpoena.
The timing of the subpoena is significant, following the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel in October 2023, which heightened concerns about potential threats to US security. Lawmakers from both parties have emphasized securing the southern border to prevent similar incidents.
The number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border and found to be on the FBI terrorist watch list has increased sharply under the Biden administration. In fiscal year 2023, Border Patrol caught over 172 known or suspected terrorists illegally entering the US, a stark contrast to the single-digit numbers during the Trump administration.
This is not the first time lawmakers have sought information from Secretary Mayorkas. In December, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) subpoenaed Mayorkas for DHS files on 14 illegal immigrants apprehended at the border and later arrested for serious crimes, including terrorism-related offenses. The increase in the number of known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) attempting to enter the US has been a major concern for both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Since President Biden took office, over 370 KSTs have been apprehended at the southwest border, compared to just 14 during the fiscal years 2017 to 2020. In total, more than 1,700 KSTs have been caught illegally entering the US since fiscal year 2021, with the majority apprehended at the northern border.
A significant concern highlighted by lawmakers is the issue of "gotaways" – illegal immigrants who evade capture after entering the US DHS and other officials have no clear data on the number or identities of these individuals, which law enforcement officials estimate is underreported by 10% to 20%. This lack of information raises serious national security concerns.
The subpoena issued by Chairman Green and other Republican lawmakers seeks to compel DHS to provide detailed information on the handling of border security and the apprehension of KSTs. The outcome of this legal action could have significant implications for US border policy and national security.
“President Biden and his now-impeached DHS secretary’s refusal to secure our borders or comply with our laws is putting our country in rapidly growing peril,” Green said after numerous officials have continued to warn about increased terrorist threats because of the Biden administration’s “open border policies.”
“The Biden administration has utterly failed to safeguard the American people by allowing millions of otherwise inadmissible aliens into the country with limited screening and vetting, including tens of thousands of special interest aliens,” Green said.
“Secretary Mayorkas has continued to stonewall congressional oversight and clearly will not comply unless compelled to do so – because he knows this information places the blame squarely at his and President Biden’s feet.”
This move, spearheaded by House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN), comes after more than a year of what lawmakers describe as "stonewalling" by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Chairman Green announced the subpoena on Friday, criticizing President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas for handling border security. Green accused them of failing to secure the borders and comply with laws, which he believes has put the country in growing peril. He stated that Secretary Mayorkas has consistently obstructed congressional oversight and suggested that only a subpoena would compel compliance.
In May 2023, Green, along with the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to DHS requesting information on illegal immigrants arrested at the border who were on the FBI terrorist watch list. Despite multiple follow-ups and attempts to accommodate DHS's schedule, Green claims the committee’s requests remain largely unsatisfied, prompting the issuance of the subpoena.
The timing of the subpoena is significant, following the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel in October 2023, which heightened concerns about potential threats to US security. Lawmakers from both parties have emphasized securing the southern border to prevent similar incidents.
The number of illegal immigrants apprehended at the border and found to be on the FBI terrorist watch list has increased sharply under the Biden administration. In fiscal year 2023, Border Patrol caught over 172 known or suspected terrorists illegally entering the US, a stark contrast to the single-digit numbers during the Trump administration.
This is not the first time lawmakers have sought information from Secretary Mayorkas. In December, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) subpoenaed Mayorkas for DHS files on 14 illegal immigrants apprehended at the border and later arrested for serious crimes, including terrorism-related offenses. The increase in the number of known or suspected terrorists (KSTs) attempting to enter the US has been a major concern for both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Since President Biden took office, over 370 KSTs have been apprehended at the southwest border, compared to just 14 during the fiscal years 2017 to 2020. In total, more than 1,700 KSTs have been caught illegally entering the US since fiscal year 2021, with the majority apprehended at the northern border.
A significant concern highlighted by lawmakers is the issue of "gotaways" – illegal immigrants who evade capture after entering the US DHS and other officials have no clear data on the number or identities of these individuals, which law enforcement officials estimate is underreported by 10% to 20%. This lack of information raises serious national security concerns.
The subpoena issued by Chairman Green and other Republican lawmakers seeks to compel DHS to provide detailed information on the handling of border security and the apprehension of KSTs. The outcome of this legal action could have significant implications for US border policy and national security.
“President Biden and his now-impeached DHS secretary’s refusal to secure our borders or comply with our laws is putting our country in rapidly growing peril,” Green said after numerous officials have continued to warn about increased terrorist threats because of the Biden administration’s “open border policies.”
“The Biden administration has utterly failed to safeguard the American people by allowing millions of otherwise inadmissible aliens into the country with limited screening and vetting, including tens of thousands of special interest aliens,” Green said.
“Secretary Mayorkas has continued to stonewall congressional oversight and clearly will not comply unless compelled to do so – because he knows this information places the blame squarely at his and President Biden’s feet.”
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Comments
2024-07-16T20:06-0400 | Comment by: Carlton
A traitor to his country . A dishonor .