Arizona Rep. Debbie Lesko joined Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and 18 House Republican colleagues, in sending a letter of inquiry to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding that the department provide more information on the border crisis willingly, or face compulsory action to do so.
This week, Mayorkas was recorded saying the border crisis was “unsustainable.”
“The southern border is in crisis despite the Biden Administration’s refusal to call it what it is. The American people can see the numbers, and Americans in communities across the nation are feeling the burden of our open borders,” the members continue. “Due to the unprecedented nature of this crisis, it is dangerously irresponsible for your Department to not be as transparent as possible with the American people, the states of this union, and the localities facing the frontline effects of this crisis.”
Citing recent record border numbers, the letter posits that the current situation is “a direct result of the Biden Administration’s weak border policies and your lackluster performance as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.” Furthermore, “DHS’s mission is ‘with honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values,’” it continues. “Frankly, you are not fulfilling that mission.”
If Mayorkas does not respond by Sept 6, the cosigners explain, “we intend to introduce a resolution of inquiry under clause 7 of House Rule XIII that will require your Department to respond.”
A resolution of inquiry is a direct request or demand of the head of an executive department to furnish the House with specific factual information that the minority party can force to the floor for a vote due to its privileged status.
Full text of the letter:
Dear Secretary Mayorkas,
As you are undoubtably aware, 188,829 illegal migrants were encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the southern border in June. The June numbers put the United States at over 1 million encounters in just the first 7 months of this fiscal year. With continued complicity from the Biden Administration, the United States is once again slated to see another massive increase in southern border encounters. For the month of July – reporting indicates another approximate 210,000 illegal migrant encounters – this will be the highest monthly total in the history of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
These numbers are appalling and are a direct result of the Biden Administration’s weak border policies and your lackluster performance as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. DHS’s mission is “with honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.”
Frankly, you are not fulfilling that mission.
The southern border is in crisis despite the Biden Administration’s refusal to call it what it is. The American people can see the numbers, and Americans in communities across the nation are feeling the burden of our open borders. Due to the unprecedented nature of this crisis, it is dangerously irresponsible for your Department to not be as transparent as possible with the American people, the states of this union, and the localities facing the frontline effects of this crisis.
We request that you respond to the below questions by September 6, 2021. If no response is received, we intend to introduce a resolution of inquiry under clause 7 of House Rule XIII that will require your Department to respond. The American people and migrants seeking to come here deserve better than the chaos of a wide-open border. Without such a foundational mechanism as enforcement of the rule of law, you cannot begin to uphold the words of DHS’s mission.
Please provide information, including documents and correspondence relating to:
1. Executive orders to repeal or rescind policies in effect before January 20, 2021, with respect to the operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the southern border of the United States.
2. The total number of migrants who unlawfully entered the United States and were taken into the custody of CBP since January 20, 2021, disaggregated by—
(A) gender;
(B) status as a single adult;
(C) status as a family unit—
(i) with a child 6 years old or younger; or
(ii) without children younger than 6 years old; and
(D) unaccompanied alien children (as such term is defined in section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 22 279(g)(2))).
3. The number of migrants who unlawfully entered the United States and were subject to expulsion pursuant to section 362 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 265), disaggregated by—
(A) gender;
(B) status as a single adult;
(C) status as a family unit—
(i) with a child 6 years old or younger; or
(ii) without children younger than 6 years old; and
(D) unaccompanied alien children.
4. The number of CBP agents, since January 20, 2021, who were reassigned from a U.S. Border Patrol sector located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas to a facility that shelters migrants who unlawfully entered the United States.
5. The number of agents from the Office of Field Operations, since January 20, 2021, who were reassigned from a U.S. Border Patrol sector to a facility that shelters migrants who unlawfully entered the United States.
6. The number of migrants who unlawfully entered the United States, since January 20, 2021, who—
(A) tested positive for the virus responsible for COVID–19 in the custody of CBP; and
(B) were released from the custody of CBP while infected with such virus.
(C) received a COVID-19 vaccination after encountering CBP
7. The number of migrants, since January 20, 2021, who—
(A) unlawfully entered the United States and were apprehended by CBP;
(B) were subsequently released into the United States after such apprehension, including the destinations of such migrants within the United States, disaggregated by State and city; and
(C) received a notice to appear for a hearing with an immigration judge, and—
(i) did so appear; and
(ii) did not so appear.
8. The number of—
(A) unaccompanied alien children who unlawfully entered the United States and were apprehended by CBP since January 20, 2021;
(B) such children who have been released to a sponsor within the United States; and
(C) such sponsors subjected to a background investigation performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
9. Migrants who unlawfully entered the United States, since January 20, 2021, who were apprehended by CBP and have a connection to a Mexican drug cartel, including—
(A) the number of such migrants;
(B) the name of each such cartel; and
(C) the connection of such migrants to such cartels, disaggregated by—
(i) membership; and
(ii) the type of assistance received by such migrants from such cartels.
10. Migrants who have unlawfully entered the United States, since January 20, 2021, who—
(A) were apprehended by CBP; and
(B) are included on a list maintained by the Federal Government relating to terrorists or individuals prohibited from boarding a commercial aircraft.
11. The CBP facility in Donna, Texas, including—
(A) with respect to funding for such facility, the Administration responsible for such funding;
(B) the date on which such facility was first used to shelter migrants who unlawfully entered the United States; and
(C) the number of such migrants sheltered in such facility since January 20, 2021.
12. Temporary Influx Care Facilities opened after January 20, 2021, including—
(A) the total number of such facilities;
(B) the number of such facilities that—
(i) were previously used as such facilities;
(ii) are convention centers;
(iii) are military bases;
(iv) have exceeded maximum capacity; and
(v) are operating with non-habitable living conditions, including—
(I) non-potable water; or
(II) other sanitary issues; and
(C) the total number of migrants who unlawfully entered the United States living in such a facility, disaggregated by—
(i) gender;
(ii) status as a single adult; and
(iii) status as a family unit—
(I) with a child 6 years old or younger; or
(II) without children younger than 6 years old; and
(iv) unaccompanied alien children.
13. The total amount of Federal funding obligated or expended for expenses relating to the care of migrants who unlawfully entered the United States since January 20, 2021, including—
(A) housing;
(B) shelter services and resources, including—
(i) personnel;
(ii) infrastructure;
(iii) utilities and food;
(iv) education; and
(v) health care, including –
(I) COVID-19 tests;
(II) COVID-19 vaccinations; and
(III) Personal Protective Equipment, and
(C) transportation, including –
(i) by vehicle; and
(ii) by airplane
Thank you for your attention to this inquiry.
Sincerely,
Chip Roy
Member of Congress
Randy Weber
Member of Congress
Beth Van Duyne
Member of Congress
Michael Cloud
Member of Congress
Debbie Lesko
Member of Congress
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Member of Congress
W. Gregory Steube
Member of Congress
Doug Lamborn
Member of Congress
Troy Balderson
Member of Congress
Glenn Grothman
Member of Congress
Vern Buchanan
Member of Congress
Bob Gibbs
Member of Congress
Matthew Rosendale, Sr.
Member of Congress
David Rouzer
Member of Congress
Dan Bishop
Member of Congress
Lauren Boebert
Member of Congress
Bob Good
Member of Congress
Barry Moore
Member of Congress
Madison Cawthorn
Member of Congress
Jody Hice
Member of Congress