Oversight Republicans Slam DHS for Failing to Present Plan Addressing Biden’s Border Crisis

Previous Republican inquiries remain unanswered as border facilities are pushed to the brink 

WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Committee Republicans sent another letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reiterating their concerns about the Biden Administration’s recent actions to unravel the former administration’s deterrent-focused border policies and their failure to implement a strategy to mitigate the humanitarian and impending health crisis unfolding at the southern border. After receiving no answers to their February inquiry, the Republican lawmakers are again insisting the Administration provide Congress a coherent plan to address the surge of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and family units arriving at the border and a strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at border facilities and communities.

“As a direct result of President Biden’s decision to unravel the former administration’s deterrent-focused policies, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the number of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and family units seeking to come to the United States,” wrote the Republican lawmakers. “Not only has the Biden Administration released COVID-19 positive alien adults into Texas, but now there are reports that the container facilities housing the children are near maximum capacity… The Administration’s silence in this matter can only be understood as confirmation that the administration does not have a coherent plan to respond to this crisis.”

Government officials recently acknowledged illegal border crossings by UACs and family units are expected to be the highest numbers observed in over 20 years. The lawmakers emphasized the Administration’s plan to confront this border crisis is essential for the Committee to conduct important oversight and urged a prompt response. 

“As we reiterated in our letter on February 19, the increasing number of UACs and family units illegally crossing the border will overwhelm border facilities in the middle of a global pandemic, presenting a risk to DHS personnel and potentially leading to widespread COVID-19 infection and fatalities in border communities and within the interior of the country.  The situation is becoming untenable every day that passes without a coherent plan to address this crisis.”

Read the letter here.