WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-NM) has sent a letter to Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) of the Committee on Oversight and Reform requesting a field hearing on the New Mexico southern border to address security, public health, and illegal immigration issues. The letter was co-signed by every Republican Committee Member.
"The United States is on pace to have nearly 2 million people cross our border by the end of this fiscal year, the approximate size of New Mexico's population," wrote Rep. Herell. "There is no end in sight, as 188,829 illegal immigrants were encountered in June, while in July it may have been upwards of 200,000. It is the duty of our committee to provide oversight of the crises that face our country. Therefore, we must hold a hearing on the crisis at our southern border and the impact it is having on the COVID-19 pandemic."
The text of the letter can be found here:
"The Biden Administration’s radical open borders agenda has ignited the worst border crisis in decades," said Ranking Member James Comer. "Under his watch, masses of children have been held in overcrowded facilities during a pandemic, apprehensions at the southwest border are at a 21-year high, COVID positive migrants are being released into our communities, the human smuggling industry is booming, and deadly drugs like fentanyl are pouring across the border. Committee Democrats held multiple hearings on the conditions at the border when President Trump was in office, but have now completely ignored the Biden border crisis. Their failure to hold a single hearing on this escalating crisis is abhorrent and neglects the duty the Oversight Committee has to the American people. It’s imperative Congress conducts oversight of this gross mismanagement, and I’m proud to join Congresswoman Herrell in calling for a field hearing to hold this Administration accountable for its reckless border policies.”
Rep. Herrell's request for a New Mexico field hearing on border issues was universally supported by GOP Committee members: Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY), Rep. Clay HIggins (R-LA), Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. C. Scott Franklin (R-FL), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX), and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)