Ortiz had testified in front of the committee during a field hearing in McAllen, Texas, on Wednesday, where he voiced his disagreement with President Biden’s call to halt border wall construction, stating that there were policies in place that were hindering the agents from doing their job. Ortiz also supported agents who were falsely accused of whipping Haitian migrants.
However, the most significant statement made by Ortiz was that the United States does not have operational control of the border. This statement contradicted what Mayorkas told lawmakers last year, and according to Ortiz, multiple sectors were overwhelmed by historic migrant flows being encountered. Chairman Mark Green described Ortiz’s testimony as "earth-shattering," With the end of Title 42 expulsions less than two months away, the committee is seeking additional testimony, including from Mayorkas.
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In an interview with Fox News Digital, Green said the committee has "tons of questions" for the DHS chief. He also suggested that the five southwest border sectors struggling with the overflow need to provide their perspectives. Green also questioned whether Mayorkas lied to Congress or if he was ignorant about the definition in the code on what defines operational security.
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Republican Representative August Pfluger also questioned Ortiz at the hearing and praised him for his honesty. Pfluger believes the next step is to hear from Mayorkas and for him to explain how the administration intends to expand on the policies that have led to the recent drop in border numbers. Pfluger believes that the key to stopping illegal entry is to increase consequences, repatriation flights, and deportation.
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The Biden administration has pushed back against the narrative from Republicans that seeks to blame the administration’s policies for the crisis. DHS issued a statement that highlighted the vital work the Department of Homeland Security does every day to enforce laws, secure borders, and combat cartels and smugglers. The administration has pointed to recent drops in numbers through January and February as evidence that recent border measures are working.
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Republicans intend to pass legislation that they believe would help fix the crisis at the border, and Green said there is a sense of urgency with Title 42’s expiration looming on May 11. Green believes that border security must be tackled before any immigration reform is considered. He is open to immigration fixes, but he questions whether reformed laws would even be followed by those in the country illegally.
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The House Homeland Security Committee is seeking additional testimony, including from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, in the wake of bombshell testimony from Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz. Republicans are pushing for increased consequences, repatriation flights, and deportation to stop illegal entry.