What's Happening at Our Border?

House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green has released transcripts of interviews with U.S. Border Patrol chief patrol agents, revealing the alarming influence of criminal cartels at the Southwest border. The interviews highlight how these cartels exploit the chaos and anti-enforcement policies under Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, leading to unprecedented control exercised by them. The cartels engage in mass crossings, endangering the lives of migrants, including children, while smuggling criminals and drugs into communities. The Committee emphasizes that Mayorkas' failure to enforce the law and deter illegal crossings enables the cartels' flourishing business model, calling for accountability to prevent further deterioration of border security.

The House Committee on Homeland Security conducted interviews with Border Patrol agents from April to September 2023, aiming to understand the impact of the crisis at the Southwest border. The second interim report highlights the testimony of law enforcement personnel and officials, indicating that criminal cartels currently control the border. Former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott noted that the cartels have unprecedented control due to mass migration. The cartels, described as well-resourced and strategic, are not only influencing border activities but also reaping historic profits from drug and human smuggling, with estimated earnings of $13 billion in 2021 from human smuggling alone. The report underscores the urgency of addressing the border crisis and holding Secretary Mayorkas accountable.