Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich raised new concerns on Tuesday that a pro-immigrant Department of Homeland Security is purging Border Patrol and ICE officials trying to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.
Noting two recent departures of key officials who spoke out about the crisis of illegal immigration along Mexico’s border with Texas and Arizona, Brnovich charged that the DHS is trying to silence the truth.
“In the midst of this historic surge in migration, our most experienced law enforcement agents should not be held hostage to leadership changes for simply providing the American people with the truth,” Brnovich wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
He cited the ouster of U.S. Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott and the reassignment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement deputy Enrique Lucero as two examples of an apparent purge.
Scott was critical of border policies under President Joe Biden that have led to the largest crossings of illegal immigrants ever. Lucero warned that Biden’s “pause” of deportations would lead to a 50% cut in ICE arrests.
“At a time when we need them most, DHS seems to be purging qualified leaders who have attempted to uphold the rule of law. Those actions only lead to more chaos and further empower the cartels who now control both sides of the border,” said Brnovich, who has made illegal immigration a cornerstone of his 2022 Senate campaign.
In the letter, provided to Secrets, he asked for a list of other border officials recently assigned or retired since Biden took office.
