House Judiciary Committee timehold hearings in person at the southern border of Yuma, Arizonaon Thursday, find out how the recent surge immigration It’s straining the resources of a small town.
Hearings on the “Biden Border Crisis” Record numbers of migrant arrests at the border in the last two yearsdenounce Biden administrationborder policy. Democrats did not attend and said they would make their own trip to the border area, citing scheduling conflicts. Many of them had already promised visits by other parliamentary delegations.”
“It’s a shame that not a single Democratic member of Congress made the trip, even though we were notified weeks in advance. It’s unfortunate, but not surprising.” Rep. Jim Jordan (Republican-Ohio)Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines, Sheriff Leon Wilmot, and Yuma Regional Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. I testified that I was affected.
“Since President Biden took office, illegal immigration from 106 countries has surged to record numbers, 17 of which are designated as countries of special interest because of their negative ties with the United States.” said Lines at the outset. statement.
Born and raised in Yuma, Lines talked about before with Washington Examiner In an area of 100,000 people, the surge is depleting local and federal law enforcement resources, he said.
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“This is not just a problem in Yuma, Arizona, but illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drugs, especially fentanyl and methamphetamine, are compounding statewide, affecting every community across the country, even bordering the country.” He said.
Trenshell, who has led Yuma Regional Medical Center for eight years, spoke about how the influx of immigrants is putting a strain on the hospital, which is hundreds of miles away from other hospitals in Phoenix and San Diego. According to him, the center has provided more than $26 million in care to immigrants in his one year, which is enough for him to pay the salaries and benefits of 212 nurses.
“There are 100,000 people living in Yuma City, and more than 300,000 crossed the border here, which is three times the population of Yuma crossing the border,” he said.
A third witness, Wilmot, testified that local border agents’ arrests of immigrants had increased from 40 to more than 1,000 per day over the past two years.
“Our southern border, contrary to all public comfort statements from Washington, D.C., is in the worst condition I’ve ever seen in my career,” he testified. For national security and humanitarian reasons, the southern border can only be described as the country’s biggest crime scene.”
The hearings were largely political, with Republicans accusing the administration of not doing enough to secure the border. Many Democrats have criticized the move, which has been criticized by the Biden administration for immigration. and asylum seekers from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The asylum plan is the most restrictive policy proposed by the Biden administration so far, citing the federal government’s “anticipation of a possible surge in immigration at the southwest border.” title 42 Pandemic border policies are expected to be lifted in late spring.
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“Not a single Democrat can persuade you to come to this briefing to get evidence from these experts. [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer [D-NY] How to pass a bill without fighting? ” Rep. Matt Gates (Republican-Florida) Said. “We must demand that it be included in the mandatory bill and we must use all our might, otherwise this is a very disrespectful act.”
During the hearing, Gates and other Republicans on the panel tried to advocate impeaching the Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorcas This is a rare instrument that has not been used against members of the Cabinet since 1876. While Gates led Lines in questioning him, he asked the Yuma County supervisor if Mayorcas ever lied to him.
“At that meeting, he committed to specifically address nine of the 11 Yuma gaps,” Lines said, recalling meeting with Mayorkas about border wall gaps in the Yuma sector. I was. “So far he hasn’t spoken to anyone.”
former president donald trumpof unfinished border wall Fully on display in Southern Arizona. Tens of thousands of steel slats that were once part of the wall are rusting to the ground near the border. Most of the pillars are reinforced with concrete and rebar and are worth $2.5 million, but since President Joe Biden canceled the project when he took office in January 2021, what can be done with the pillars? is unknown.
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Lawmakers have tried to find a middle ground on immigration reform, but their efforts largely failed in the last session, and the split in Congress has made the outlook even more bleak. In the absence of legislative momentum, House Republicans continue to send attention-grabbing messages to the Southern border issue.
The Yuma hearing is the third Republican-led border visit of the year. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) The House Committee on Energy and Commerce led a trip to the border last week. In addition, the House Committee on Homeland Security will conduct a trip called “Border Boot Camp” for incoming Republicans.
Original location: Biden administration condemns border surge at GOP-only hearing in Yuma
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