Kelly, Langworthy, Stefanik, Zinke lead 20+ House Republicans calling on Mayorkas to address record illegal Northern border apprehensions
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Ryan Zinke (R-MT), Co-Chairs of the Northern Border Security Caucus, along with Northern Border Security Caucus members Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) and House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing "serious concern about the unprecedented surge in apprehensions along our Northern border."
According to U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) data, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, Border Patrol agents apprehended 10,021 aliens illegally crossing the border between ports of entry, including 2,229 apprehensions in the first four months alone. In the first four months of FY 2024, through January 2024, the Border Patrol has already apprehended 4,772 subjects along the Northern Border, a 114% increase from the first four months of FY 2023. In FY 2024 alone, Border Patrol agents are on track to apprehend a record number of illegal immigrants at the Northern border.
Additionally, the lawmakers reveal the Northern Border has also seen a dangerous spike in drug smuggling, particularly fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. CBP has seized nearly double the amount of fentanyl – the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45 – in the first four months of FY 2024 than it did throughout the entirety of FY23 at the Northern Border.
"While the Southwest Border has been overrun with drug smugglers, we cannot allow another avenue for deadly, illegal drugs into our country and our communities," the Members wrote. "In FY 2024 alone, Border Patrol agents are on track to apprehend a record number of illegal immigrants at the Northern border. These statistics are yet another example of how the Biden administration is downplaying the serious nature of this orchestrated border crisis. Every state has now become a border state under your leadership – or lack thereof."
A total of 22 House Republicans signed the letter, which was sent on Monday to DHS.
You can read the full letter here.
BACKGROUND
In November 2023, Rep. Kelly testified before the House Judiciary Committee about the threats and vulnerabilities of an unsecured U.S. Northern border. Kelly also urged members of the Committee, whose jurisdiction includes immigration issues, to support his resolution introduced last month. The resolution, which is also supported by Reps. Zinke, Stefanik, and Langworthy, calls on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to develop a formal plan to secure the Northern border.
Rep. Kelly's testimony followed recent reports from U.S. Customs & Border Protection which showed an alarming number of suspects on the terror watchlist who are crossing into the United States along the Northern border with Canada. In FY23, 85% of all suspected terrorists encountered at land border ports of entry have crossed into the United States along the Northern border, according to U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP). That number is up from just 34% in FY2021.
To date in FY2024, 90% of all terror watchlist suspects caught at land border ports of entry entered through the Northern border.
In February 2023, Reps. Kelly and Zinke founded the Northern Border Security Caucus to highlight the unique challenges and demands created by illegal immigration and drug smuggling in the 13 states along the U.S.-Canadian border. Spanning more than 5,500 miles between Alaska and Maine, the U.S. northern border is the longest border between two countries in the world.