Sessions & Grothman Press DHS on Diverting Personnel to Manage the Biden Border Crisis

DHS diverting employees from Federal Air Marshal Service, U.S. Secret Service, and USCIS to the southwest border

WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Chairman Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over DHS’ decision to deploy over 1,400 non-Customs and Border Protection (CBP) DHS personnel and non-law enforcement personnel to the southwest border to facilitate unprecedented levels of illegal immigration. In the letter, the Republican Subcommittee Chairmen request documents and communications regarding DHS’s decision and the anticipated impact on the operations of those other, vital DHS components.

“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to deploy over 1,400 non-Customs and Border Protection (CBP) DHS personnel and non-law enforcement personnel to the southwest border to facilitate unprecedented levels of illegal immigration into the United States,” wrote the lawmakers. “Reports indicate that DHS will deploy nearly 200 Federal Air Marshals, as well as USSS agents, and USCIS personnel to the southwest border. The deployment of non-Customs and Border Protection and non-law enforcement personnel to the southwest border could have a negative effect on the core missions of FAMS and USSS.”

On May 10, 2023, DHS announced that 1,400 DHS personnel will be deployed to the southwest border to assist CBP in preparation for the end of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s order to expel illegal border crossers under Title 42 authorities. After DHS first deployed Federal Air Marshals to temporary positions at the southwest border in November of 2022, a representative of the Air Marshal National Council argued that the deployments were illegal “because they involve duties outside the scope of the job.”

“Rather than protecting Americans against terrorism threats in the air, Federal Air Marshals deployed to the southwest border were and will be forced to conduct hospital watches and provide other services, including transportation, to illegal border crossers,” continued the lawmakers. “The Committee requests documents and communications regarding DHS’s decision to deploy non-Customs and Border Protection personnel and non-law enforcement personnel to the southwest border, and the anticipated impact on the operations of those other, vital DHS components.”

Read the letter to Secretary Mayorkas here.