In April of this year, we wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, warning that if he doesn’t immediately reverse course, House Republicans will be forced to hold him accountable for creating and perpetuating the worst humanitarian crisis in modern American history.
Since we sent that letter, the crisis at our border has only become worse. Monthly southern border encounters reached an all-time high in May, with 239,416 apprehensions, surpassing the previous record for the third consecutive month.
Last week, in the single deadliest human smuggling incident in American history, more than 50 migrants were found dead in a tractor-trailer outside of San Antonio, Texas. Even before this tragedy, in fiscal year 2021, a record number of illegal immigrants died attempting the dangerous journey across our southern border. They are the victims of vile and callous human smugglers who are a part of a booming business thanks to Secretary Mayorkas.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Judiciary Committee, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Washington.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Judiciary Committee, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Secretary Mayorkas’s continued refusal to enforce federal immigration law has led to the deteriorating situation at our southern border. Leaked video recordings revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has decided to drop charges against all illegal immigrant defendants who do not pose a "national security or a public safety threat."