Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz directly contradicted Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday by telling Congress that the federal government does not have operational control of the border.
Mayorkas, whom Republicans want to impeach, has repeatedly said the administration has control of the southern border despite a two-year crisis with a record number of illegal crossings every month since President Joe Biden took office.
Ortiz’s testimony before the House Homeland Security panel comes just days after a group of at least 1,000 migrants attempted to rush to the El Paso, Texas port of entry directly opposite from Juarez, Mexico.
Ortiz also took responsibility for the September 2021 controversy surrounding footage of border agents on horseback using whips to surround migrants at the border – and reiterated the importance of the mounted unit.
Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz told Congress on Wednesday that the United States does not have operational control of the southern border
The hearing comes after a group of at least 1,000 migrants attempted to rush into a port of entry in El Paso, Texas over the weekend. When the migrants reached the hump of the bridge, customs and protection officers were able to block their passage with wire barricades and tear gas
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green pointedly asked Ortiz during a hearing on Wednesday, “Does DHS have operational control of our entire border?”
“No, sir,” Ortiz replied.
Republicans say the southern border crisis is intentional, saying Biden, Mayorkas and Democrats don’t want to enforce immigration laws and want to quash the idea that the United States has secure borders.
In his opening statement, Ortiz supported agents falsely accused by Democrats, including President Biden, of lashing Haitian migrants during a border encounter in 2021.
“As a former mounted patrol officer, I can attest to the vital importance of mounted patrol units in responding to remote and challenging locations. Last year’s mass migration event in Del Rio was chaotic. More than 20,000 people show up at one place in a short time,” Ortiz recalls.
“I remain proud of the work of our mounted patrol units and what we have done in Del Rio,” he added.
“As Border Patrol chief, I am ultimately responsible for all operational decisions,” Ortiz said. “At this point, and as senior commander on the ground during this response, I have accepted and continue to accept full responsibility for the actions taken.”
Footage emerged in 2021 showing officers on horseback wielding reins as they attempted to lock up migrants when a caravan arrived in Del Rio, Texas. Democrats, progressives and immigration activists immediately jumped on the misleading and damning images, saying these officers were whipping migrants.
Ortiz’s testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday was in direct contradiction to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (left), who has repeatedly said the United States controls the southern border.
Migrant encounters in January were at their lowest level since February 2021 after five months of rising apprehensions. Ortiz said, however, there have already been 385,000 so-called “leaks” in fiscal year 2023 so far.
The Biden administration admitted nearly a year after the incident that Border Patrol agents were falsely accused of “whipping” Haitian migrants. However, they still referred four officers to discipline in connection with the viral shock.
The Customs and Border Protection Office of Personal Accountability released a 511-page report last year detailing that it had found “no evidence that [Border Patrol agents] involved in this incident intentionally or unintentionally hit any migrant with their reins.
Biden said in the fallout from the Sept. 19 encounter, “To see people being treated the way they have been…people tied down — it’s outrageous. I promise you these people will pay.
Oritz revealed during Wednesday’s hearing that there have already been 385,000 so-called “leaks” in fiscal year 2023 so far. They are illegal immigrants who were able to evade border patrol while crossing and were instead found under other forms of surveillance.
Ortiz said the actual number of those who crossed over and weren’t apprehended is usually 10 to 20 percent higher to account for those who weren’t spotted.
Ortiz also took responsibility for the controversy surrounding a September 2021 incident where officers on horseback were seen using the reins in a way that led to allegations that they were whipping black migrants from Haiti. .
A massive group of migrants attempted to cross the southern border at the El Paso checkpoint over the weekend, but were prevented from entering by the Mexican military and US CBP officers and agents.
Barriers with barbed wire stopped the attempted entry of migrants, mainly from Venezuela, as well as the use of tear gas and riot shields.
House Republicans advanced by introducing articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas for lying to the American public about the border being secure and for failing in his duty to protect the sanctity of the American border.
It is unlikely that Mayorkas will actually be removed from office by Congress, given that the Senate still has a Democratic majority.
Many lawmakers are also pushing for more reforms that would resolve the southern border crisis now that they have taken control of the lower house.
