Chairman Mark Green, MD (R-TN), delivered a scathing criticism of the Biden administration and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for their handling of the border crisis. Speaking at a hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Green argued that their policies have not only failed to mitigate the crisis but have also "devastated the lives and livelihoods of Americans and migrants alike."
Green emphasized the widespread effects of the crisis, stating, "This crisis has turned every state into a border state and every town into a border town." He highlighted the increase in drug-related deaths, with "tens of thousands of Americans dying from fentanyl poisoning." According to Green, opioid overdose deaths, including those from fentanyl, surged to nearly 83,000 in 2022, as predicted by the CDC.
The chairman also raised concerns about the dangers faced by migrants under the current administration's policies. He cited the deaths of at least 1,700 migrants on U.S. soil and quoted former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, who said, "Chaos kills people, and we created a chaotic border situation."
Green expressed particular concern for unaccompanied minors, stating that around 400,000 have been released into the U.S. since February 2021. He claimed that this decision has led to the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable minors, exacerbated by the administration's hurried vetting process.
Calling for accountability, Green urged the committee to confront the human tragedies caused by what he referred to as a "wide-open border." He stated, "Holding this administration accountable for causing this humanitarian disaster is not a waste of time."
The hearing is part of a larger five-phase investigation being conducted by the Committee on Homeland Security, aiming to probe the causes and consequences of what Chairman Green described as an "unprecedented crisis" at the Southwest border.
