Joe Biden may be on his way out soon. But he needs to watch his steps.
Because the White House has received an unexpected letter with a stark warning.
The Biden administration knows that they are not viewed well anymore. At the beginning of the Biden administration, the American public generally held positive views of President Biden and his allies, according to the approval surveys back in 2021. That didn’t last long as controversies and failures started to pile up for the Biden administration, starting with the Afghanistan pullout disaster from the Summer of 2021.
One of the biggest failures that led to the demise of Joe Biden’s Presidency and Kamala Harris’s campaign is certainly the border crisis. They have utterly failed to get the illegal immigration crisis under control, and they waited until the end of Joe Biden’s tenure to make executive changes that helped cut down some of the illegal immigration. By then, it was too late. The American people no longer trusted them.
They know this to be true, though. They are likely worried about what the next Trump administration might find out about how poorly they’ve handled the immigration crisis. This is leading some Republicans in Congress to worry about what the Biden administration might be trying to shred before Trump takes office again.
Republicans Demand DHS Secretary Mayorkas Preserve Records Amid Border Crisis
As the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis continues to spark outrage, a prominent Republican lawmaker is demanding that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas preserve all information related to the border crisis over the past four years. This comes amid ongoing concerns over what many Republicans perceive as gross mismanagement and negligence on the part of the Biden administration regarding immigration and border security.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, expressed his frustrations in a letter to Mayorkas, urging the DHS to preserve any and all records related to the crisis. Roy highlighted the severe consequences of the Biden administration’s approach, including “recordbreaking illegal alien encounters,” “millions of aliens released into the interior,” and “scores of criminals and other bad actors infiltrating our communities.” He argues that this failure to secure the border has endangered Americans and migrants alike. In the letter, obtained first by Fox News Digital, Roy emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the DHS’s actions, asserting that the incoming Trump administration should have access to this information in order to “undo the damage done.”
“During your tenure as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, we have seen recordbreaking illegal alien encounters at our borders, millions of aliens released into the interior, scores of criminals and other bad actors infiltrating our communities, endangering Americans and aliens alike, and much more,” Roy wrote. “It is imperative DHS preserve any and all information related to the border crisis and mass influx of aliens into the interior so the incoming Trump administration can deliver on its mandate to undo the damage done.”
The letter follows ongoing complaints from Republicans about the lack of responsiveness from the DHS to requests for information, a claim the agency has denied. While DHS points to numerous briefings and official appearances as evidence of their transparency, Roy’s office and other congressional members have repeatedly received “delayed and insufficient responses or – at worst – no response at all.” Roy’s letter demands that DHS take “all reasonable steps to prevent the destruction” of any documents related to border security and immigration policies under the Biden administration, citing a long list of requested information, including reports, memoranda, and data.
One of the most contentious aspects of the letter is the request for information on the Biden administration’s controversial immigration policies, such as the number of migrants released with court dates or under humanitarian parole, as well as details about the use of the CBP One app, which allows migrants to schedule appointments for parole into the U.S. Roy is also seeking data on criminals and gang members who have been allowed into the country, visa overstays, and the number of Chinese nationals released into the U.S. with potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
The push for transparency comes as the border crisis has escalated throughout the Biden administration, with record numbers of illegal crossings and migrant releases. Despite some recent moves to implement tougher measures, such as limiting asylum in June 2024, the administration’s border policies continue to face sharp criticism, especially from Republicans.
Roy himself was a key figure in the impeachment efforts against Mayorkas earlier this year, although the Senate ultimately did not take up the impeachment. Roy’s demand that Mayorkas preserve records signals that immigration and border security will remain a central issue for Republicans as the incoming Trump administration prepares to take office.
Roy’s letter explicitly details the various categories of information that he wants to ensure are available for future investigations, including the countries of origin of migrants, their last known whereabouts, and any criminal background information. Roy is also requesting data on Temporary Protected Status and other immigration programs, further highlighting his concerns about the long-term impact of the Biden administration’s policies.
The letter is not only a demand for accountability but also a direct warning to the DHS that the incoming Republican Congress will continue to scrutinize the administration’s actions. With President-elect Trump already making moves to overhaul the country’s immigration policy, including appointing former ICE Director Thomas Homan as his border czar, Roy’s letter emphasizes that immigration will remain a top priority for Republicans in 2025. Furthermore, with the nomination of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as Mayorkas’s successor, the GOP is poised to take significant steps toward a more hardline approach to border security.
On site in San Antonio where last week SA Police and DPS raided and arrested 19 Venezuelans, including 4 members of Tren De Aragua.
Venezuela emptied their prisons and sent their criminals to the US.
Kamala and Mayorkas have failed miserably. It’s time for a new admin that… pic.twitter.com/kpfvFgW1ay
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) October 11, 2024
Republicans are already preparing additional legislation to address the border crisis, including the Republican-backed HR 2 bill, which passed in the House in 2023 but has yet to be taken up by the Senate. As the political landscape shifts in Washington, it’s clear that the fallout from the Biden administration’s border policies will continue to drive debate and legislative action. Mayorkas and the DHS are likely to face intense scrutiny in the years to come as Republicans push for a fundamental overhaul of U.S. immigration and border security policies.
Aside from this letter, there are rumors that Joe Biden and his allies are considering a pardon for Alejandro Mayorkas for any actions he may have taken during his time as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. That only invites more questions as to what the incoming administration will find out about the past four years.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
