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Lawmakers discuss effectiveness of Border War in tackling immigration crisis.

House Republicans ​led a⁤ hearing​ to discuss the effect‌ of President Joe Biden’s ⁤changes to border barrier policies ⁣and‌ their impact ‍on illegal immigration ⁤going‌ forward.

Republican ‍lawmakers⁢ pointed to the ‍sharp​ increase ​in​ illegal ⁤immigration detentions ⁢and “gotaways”⁢ that ⁤have flooded⁢ the border ‍since the⁤ barrier project‍ was‍ halted ⁣by Mr. Biden.

The joint ‍subcommittee ​hearing by the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border​ Security and ‌Enforcement, led⁢ by Chairman ‍Clay⁤ Higgins‌ (R-La.), and‌ the Subcommittee on⁢ Oversight, Investigations,‍ and Accountability,‌ led‌ by​ Chairman ⁤Dan​ Bishop (R-N.C.), featured ​expert ⁣testimony from‍ witnesses​ from ⁢current and⁤ former ⁢government officials, ‍a ‌representative from ‍the Army ​Corps⁢ of‍ Engineers, and⁣ several ‍non-government ⁤figures whose lives‍ have been ‌impacted ​by the ‍border ⁢crisis.

“Illegal border ‍crossings⁤ have decreased by‌ up‌ to 87 percent ⁣from fiscal‍ year 2017 ‍to ‌fiscal‍ year ​2020,”​ Mr.‌ Higgins‌ said, referencing the​ former‍ Trump⁣ administration’s​ program​ to⁣ strengthen ⁤barriers ⁤on ‍the‍ southern border.

“In the two ‍and⁢ a⁤ half years ‍since President Biden was inaugurated, there ‌have been ‍more than ⁢5 ​million ⁤illegal border crossings and‍ over one and a half ⁢million⁢ gotaways ​… If this​ trend continues,‍ the⁤ Biden‌ administration⁢ is‌ expected⁤ to reach⁤ nearly ⁢two and a ‌half ‍million alien ⁣encounters at the​ southern border⁤ by the end‌ of September ‍of⁤ this ⁢year alone.

Mr. Higgins also asserted that a‍ barrier⁤ system at⁢ the ⁤border allows Customs⁣ and Border ⁤Protection ⁢agents⁤ to respond and​ to detect threats or ⁢breaches ⁣using ‍surveillance‌ technology⁣ in place along⁢ the barrier​ instead⁣ of ​relying on ⁤man patrol​ and other limited ⁣surveillance efforts.

Democrat ⁤Response

Homeland Security Subcommittee​ on ⁢Border Security and Enforcement‍ Ranking⁤ Member ⁣Rep.⁢ Lou ‌Correa (D-Calif.) weighed ⁣in on‌ the ⁢issue, ⁤saying⁤ that a ‍border wall solution⁢ to​ illegal ⁤immigration ‍was ⁣a “[President] ​Bill ​Clinton⁣ era​ project ⁤from⁢ 30​ years‍ ago.”

Mr. Correa ⁣went⁢ on to say ​that⁢ “the‌ challenges today ⁣look very different than ​they did 30 years ago,” and⁤ that⁢ the ​question before ​the ⁢committees was, “Does a ​border⁢ wall fit into ⁤the ‍challenges ⁢that ⁣we ​are​ seeing today?”

The ⁤lawmaker discussed ⁤changes that have ⁤taken place‌ at​ the⁤ border‍ throughout⁢ the Trump⁤ and Biden⁢ administrations,‍ referencing the⁣ COVID-19 restrictions that came​ with Title‍ 42, and the ‌repeal of that ⁢measure ⁣and‍ enactment of ‍Title 8, ⁤which ⁣Mr. Correa asserted‍ has worked well since it was reenacted.

According ‍to⁢ the​ California‌ lawmaker, a ⁢border wall is causing ⁢more problems ‌than​ it is⁣ remedying: “The wall is not preventing migrants⁤ from coming⁤ to ‍the United States,‍ but rather ⁢the ⁤wall⁣ is ‍directing migrants ‍to‍ cross‌ in⁤ more remote​ and dangerous areas of the ⁤border.”

“We’ve ​also seen more injuries, ‌traumatizing families ⁢and costing our hospitals millions⁣ of dollars.”

Mr. Correa ​cited ⁣data ⁢indicating‌ that ​a⁤ large portion of ⁣drugs​ coming ⁣from Mexico⁤ and‌ China are now coming through ⁢alternative routes, bypassing‌ the⁣ border wall.



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