Border Trip Wrap Up: Republicans Visit Southwest Border to Witness Biden’s Border Crisis

“You won’t see this on TV”

WASHINGTON—This week, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-K.Y.) and Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) led a delegation of seven Committee Republicans to El Paso, Texas and New Mexico to witness firsthand the humanitarian and national security crisis unfolding at the U.S.-Mexico border as a result of President Biden’s open borders policies.

The lawmakers took the opportunity to examine the extent of the escalating border crisis by touring Border Patrol Station 1, the El Paso Processing Center, the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, and participated in a night ride with the National Border Patrol Council. In addition, local officials and ranchers in New Mexico shared harrowing stories tied to President Biden’s decision to cease border wall construction which has now placed their lives at risk.

Border Patrol agents on the ground described facilities being overwhelmed by the surge of illegal immigrants. The sheer amount of unaccompanied children alone has forced the agency to divert operational resources away from strengthening border enforcement. Border Patrol agents emphasized the importance of policy-driven solutions to stem the flow of migrants and noted President Biden’s decision to end the Migrant Protection Protocols is fueling the crisis.

After departing El Paso, the lawmakers travelled to New Mexico to join the Johnson family and other ranchers who have been especially impacted by President Biden’s decision to halt border wall construction. At a roundtable luncheon, ranchers told lawmakers they thought the government was at least trying to help them in 2004 and 2005, but they now feel completely abandoned by the Biden Administration.

The border wall abruptly stops on the Johnson’s ranch and migrants are now traveling through the opening, onto their property, and into the U.S. Lawmakers toured the ranch and saw how President Biden’s decision to cease construction is placing Americans, like the Johnsons, at risk.

To make matters worse, miles of border wall material remain unused. Under President Trump, the wall was ready to be built.

The lawmakers concluded the trip with a night ride with the National Border Patrol Council. During the time with Border Patrol, it became clear that by proposing blanket amnesty, weakening interior enforcement, and reducing border security, President Biden has signaled to the world that our immigration laws can be violated with little consequence.