WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), demanding answers to more information regarding the crisis at the southern border.
Senator Johnson wrote: “While you refuse to use the word ‘crisis,’ you should know that our border communities bearing the brunt of your disastrous decisions have no such reluctance.”
As Title 42 comes to an end, the senator is quick to point out that this spells the potential for a great increase in the number of illegal crossings. While many illegal immigrants turn themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol, many others do not. Indeed, at least 1.3 million people have crossed into the United States illegally and avoided apprehension during the Biden administration. Given the serious national security concerns raised by this reality, the senator has requested the following information by 5:00 p.m. on May 18, 2023:
- Of the nearly 6,000,000 nationwide alien encounters during the Biden administration,
a. The number of aliens who turned themselves in to Border Patrol or other law enforcement officials; and
b. The number of aliens who were apprehended attempting to evade Border Patrol or other law enforcement officials.
- Of those encounters apprehended while attempting to evade Border Patrol or other law enforcement officials,
a. The number of aliens with criminal convictions, including the type of conviction, their processing disposition and transfer destination, and how many are currently still in the United States
b. The number of aliens with known criminal gang or cartel affiliations, including which affiliation, their processing disposition and transfer destination, and how many are currently still in the United States; and
c. The number of aliens on the Terrorist Screening Database, including their processing disposition and transfer destination, and how many are currently still in the United States.
- Of the 1,300,000 known gotaways during the Biden administration,
a. The number of aliens who are considered to have actively evaded apprehension; and
b. The number of aliens who were attempting to turn themselves in but were unable to do so.
Full text of the letter can be found here.
