Joint Committee Staff Report Highlights Border Patrol Testimony on How to Secure U.S. Southern Border

WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) released a joint staff report titled “Crisis at the Border: Reports from the Frontline.” The joint staff report contains excerpts of interviews with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on the frontlines of the Biden border crisis and highlights the need for policy changes by the Biden Administration to curtail the unprecedented flow of migrants, narcotics, and crime at the southwest border.

“The men and women on the frontline of the worst border crisis in U.S. history confirmed to our committees we must return to deterrent policies on the border. The Biden Administration has failed to secure our southern border and provide those who bravely attempt to control the border sectors with the adequate tools to do so. Fundamental change from the White House is required to stop the transnational criminal organizations profiting from the disaster on the southern border. I want to thank Border Patrol agents for their persistent courage in the face of an increasingly impossible task,” said House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.).

The surge of illegal entries into the United States under the Biden Administration is unprecedented and demands Congressional oversight. The House Committees on Oversight and Accountability and Homeland Security sought insights from those leading the fight on the front lines—Border Patrol agents of the southwest border sectors. To that end, the Committees conducted transcribed interviews of the U.S. Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agents of the nine southwest land border sectors. The nine agents interviewed have over 225 combined years of law enforcement experience within the Border Patrol. This report highlights the expert views of the agents interviewed on key border policy issues facing Congress.

“For three years, the men and women of the United States Border Patrol have courageously continued to do their jobs despite Secretary Mayorkas effectively tying their hands behind their backs. These transcribed interviews have given our Committees, and now the American people, some shocking insights into the consequences of the Secretary’s refusal to enforce the law and secure our borders. Accountability is desperately needed at the highest levels of the Department of Homeland Security. Until that happens, and leaders are in place who will faithfully follow and execute the law, this crisis will continue to rage, and Border Patrol agents will continue to suffer amidst the chaos,” said House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.).

Key Takeaways:

• Chief Patrol Agents cited strong consequences for illegal entry into the United States as necessary to deter individuals from illegally crossing the southern border.  
• Chief Patrol Agents explained that the border barrier system, as well as other technologies, are helpful tools that aid agents in their border security mission.
• Chief Patrol Agents are concerned with the increase of illegal border crossers from ‘nontraditional’ countries and with increase of illegal crossers that have a record of potential terrorist ties.
• Chief Patrol Agents describe violent Transnational Criminal Organizations as facilitating and benefitting from the increased flow of illegal border crossers.

Read the report here.