Comer, Grothman, and Oversight Republicans Again Call for a Hearing on Biden’s Border Crisis

As the crisis worsens, Committee Democrats have ignored multiple Republican requests to hold the Administration accountable

WASHINGTON — Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.), Subcommittee on National Security Ranking Member Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), and Oversight Republicans sent a letter to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) blasting Democrats’ for failing to hold a hearing and conduct meaningful oversight over the Biden Administration’s self-inflicted humanitarian and national security crisis at the U.S. southern border. 

“This mounting crisis is leading to longstanding consequences for our country. Without border enforcement, our national security and rule of law are threatened. Our Committee needs to conduct oversight to bring transparency and accountability to this escalating crisis. Not only is ICE operating as an ‘unofficial travel coordination agency,’ but it is also releasing criminal illegal immigrants into our local communities… The Biden Administration’s release policies only exacerbate the crisis at our southwest border. Month after month, we witness record levels of encounters, overwhelming our hardworking Border Patrol agents and negatively impacting border communities,” wrote the Republican lawmakers. 

On March 4, 2021, Republican lawmakers first requested Chairwoman Maloney to immediately convene a hearing on the deteriorating situation at the border. They renewed the request again on March 25, 2021 and on June 2, 2021. Since Republicans requested a hearing nearly a year ago, illegal immigration has soared to historic levels. There were over two million encounters of illegal border crossers since January 2021, and this does not include the hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants that likely evaded U.S. Border Patrol.

“Given this reality, it is unacceptable that Committee Democrats have failed to hold a single hearing on the Biden Administration’s immigration and border security policies. This is despite repeated requests from Committee Republicans. It is imperative that the Committee conduct oversight of the ongoing southwest border crisis and the Administration’s migrant release policies, including taxpayer-funded transportation of these migrants,” continued the Republican lawmakers. “We renew our request for a public and in-person hearing with witnesses from the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Refugee Resettlement.  We should no longer allow the Biden Administration to hide behind black tarps and midnight skies.” 
 
Read the letter here.