Austin News

U.S. Senator John Cornyn and a group of fellow Republican senators have issued a letter to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. The letter demands explanations for the administration's immigration policies, which the senators claim have weakened national security and compromised U.S. immigration laws.

The group, including Senators Jim Risch, Ted Cruz, Mike Crapo, Kevin Cramer, Steve Daines, John Hoeven, James Lankford, Roger Marshall, Markwayne Mullin, and Tim Scott, accuses the administration of prioritizing illegal aliens over American safety since taking office.

"Within hours of taking office," they assert that the administration "weakened our national security and undermined the integrity of U.S. immigration laws through a series of flawed executive orders and proclamations."

They further criticize actions such as halting border wall construction on January 20, 2021. This decision is described as having left the nation vulnerable to illegal crossings and other threats.

On February 2, 2021, an executive order aimed at restoring faith in legal immigration systems allegedly had adverse effects by expanding pathways for illegal aliens to remain in the country. This move reportedly strained resources needed for processing legitimate claims.

The termination of Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), or "Remain in Mexico" policy under this administration is cited as contributing to an unprecedented surge at the border. The letter suggests that enforcement personnel were overwhelmed due to these changes.

The senators demand answers regarding several issues by November 30, 2024. These include statistics on illegal crossings since certain executive orders were implemented and details about DHS personnel reassignments related to processing migrants.

In closing their message with a call for accountability from Congress members state: "We demand accountability to restore common-sense immigration enforcement policies that prioritize safety."