It has taken less than two months for the Biden administration to turn a controlled and quiet border into a major security and humanitarian crisis requiring the help of FEMA due to the 174% surge in illegal immigrants, some wearing T-shirts reading, “Biden Please Let Us In.”
The change has happened so fast that it has been hard to find what triggered it.
But thanks to research done by Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, ranking member Rep. James Comer has produced today a timeline of 27 actions related to the surge, including 22 by the administration to dismantle the border peace put in place by the former Trump administration.
The timeline, provided to Secrets, lists executive and legislative moves, statements from top officials, and unanswered letters demanding details of the crisis.
“The facts are clear: President Biden created a crisis at the border. Since day one in office, President Biden has done more to reopen the border to illegal immigrants and stimulate the human smuggling industry than reopen schools for America’s public school students and our economy,” said the Kentucky Republican.
The document, titled “Biden’s Border Crisis Timeline By The Numbers,” and shown below, first highlights the changing climate at the border, including a 317% increase in families crossing the border in February 2021 over February 2020.
With a 28% monthly increase in illegal border crossings, we have an illegal immigration crisis of @JoeBiden‘s own making. @newsmax pic.twitter.com/hnfTUBlQuJ
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) March 15, 2021
It then lists Biden’s actions to open the border, end Trump’s successful program of keeping migrants in Mexico pending approval of their entry, and changes to the deportation of illegal immigrants inside the United States, resulting in a 62% drop in arrests.
What’s more, it cites letters demanding information and transparency from the administration that remain unanswered. And it includes one to committee Chairwoman Rep. Caroline Maloney that seeks a hearing on the crisis, also unanswered.
In his statement to Secrets, Comer said, “President Biden’s deliberate decision to unravel President Trump’s deterrent-focused policies has created a humanitarian and national security crisis at the border. Human smugglers are exploiting the Biden administration’s open borders agenda and many families and children are making the dangerous journey to the United States with the near guarantee they will be released into the United States.”
The administration has made some moves to control the crisis and continues to deport some of those apprehended. This week, for example, it offered Mexico coronavirus vaccines not used in the U.S., and in return, won promises to hold some migrants in Mexico.
But Republicans, several of whom toured the border this week, want more action from Biden.
Said Comer, “With mounting evidence we are on track to have the worst border crisis in 20 years, President Biden needs to enforce the law and implement policies to discourage families and children from coming to the border.”
