Austin News

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has written an op-ed on FoxNews.com, calling attention to the Southern Border Transparency Act that he recently introduced with over 20 Senate Republicans. The legislation aims to hold the U.S. Department of Homeland Security accountable for its handling of migrants encountered at the border and ensure transparency regarding the number of migrants being released into the United States.

In the op-ed titled "What Does Biden Have to Hide on the Border?", Senator Cornyn highlights the growing crisis at the southern border. He emphasizes the staggering statistics, stating that over 6.2 million migrants have illegally crossed the border since President Biden took office. Additionally, at least 1.5 million individuals have evaded law enforcement entirely. The situation has led to overcrowded detention facilities, a skyrocketing immigration court backlog, and historically low deportation rates.

During his recent visit to the southern border in Texas, Senator Cornyn witnessed firsthand the exhaustion and frustration of Border Patrol agents who are dealing with the crisis. He argues that the Biden administration's goal has not been to address the border crisis but rather to conceal the evidence. The Department of Homeland Security has allegedly attempted to "legalize" illegal immigration by funneling migrants into parole programs without providing clear information on the number of individuals entering the country through these programs.

Senator Cornyn also criticizes the Biden administration's unilateral actions in creating programs that grant legal status and work authorization to migrants from specific countries, such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. He points out that there is no comprehensive public data on the number of people enrolled in these programs or whether they ultimately depart the United States.

Furthermore, the administration's CBP One app has allowed people from around the world, including individuals from Iran, China, and Russia, to be released into the U.S. without clear information on their inclusion in the monthly tally of border crossings.

Senator Cornyn argues that when these programs fail to hide the rising border encounters, the Department of Homeland Security resorts to catch and release practices under the guise of "humanitarian release." He criticizes the lack of transparency regarding who qualifies for catch and release, the screening processes in place, and the extent of this practice.

To address these concerns and bring transparency to the border crisis, Senator Cornyn plans to introduce the Southern Border Transparency Act. The bill would require the Biden administration to make public the details of its catch-and-release practices. It aims to answer vital questions such as the number and origin of migrants being released into the country, the issuance of work authorization, the departure rates after parole ends, the number of individuals placed in expedited removal proceedings, and the number of asylum claims before release into the interior.

Senator Cornyn emphasizes that this legislation is about transparency and providing accurate information to the American people. He urges Congress to take action and highlights that the Southern Border Transparency Act has already garnered support from over 20 Republican co-sponsors.

In conclusion, Senator Cornyn asserts that if the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress believe in the legitimacy of these release programs and the handling of migrants by the Department of Homeland Security, they should have nothing to hide. The American people deserve a full accounting of President Biden's border policies and the true extent of the crisis at the southern border.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/biden-hide-border

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-op-ed-what-does-biden-have-to-hide-on-the-border/