Ex-Border Patrol Chief’s Testimony Paints Brutal Picture of Biden-Harris Policies

Former Border Patrol Chief Heitke sharply criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies and border crisis management during a recent testimony before House lawmakers.

At a Glance

Former Border Patrol Chief Aaron Heitke testified against the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the border crisis.
Heitke claimed the administration hid the severity of the border crisis and restricted him from speaking to the media.
Heitke reported the administration used expensive flights to move migrants and greatly reduced deportations.
The former chief urged for stricter immigration enforcement and criticized cuts to detention facilities.

Heitke’s Testimony Before Lawmakers

Former senior-ranking U.S. Border Patrol official Aaron Heitke testified to House lawmakers, expressing critical concerns about the Biden-Harris administration’s management of the southern border crisis. Heitke alleged that the administration significantly reduced national detention capacity by cutting ICE funding and eliminating private detention centers. According to Heitke, this led to a considerable increase in illegal border crossings, straining Border Patrol agents as migrant encounters skyrocketed.

Heitke argued that the administration’s decisions, including the January 2021 halt to deportations and the end of the “Remain in Mexico” policy, exacerbated the crisis. He noted a marked decrease in the return of illegal immigrants to their home countries under the current administration. Heitke claimed he was forbidden from discussing certain aspects of the crisis with the media and described instances where he was instructed to keep migrants out of media sight.

Financial and Operational Strain

Heitke also criticized the Biden administration’s use of costly flights to transport migrants from San Diego to Texas, each flight costing approximately $150,000. He disclosed that, since January 2021, over 5.3 million illegal immigrants intercepted at the southern border were allowed to stay in the U.S., prompting more individuals to cross the border in 2022 and 2023. He noted that cuts to immigration detention space forced mass releases of detainees into American communities.

“Each time we asked for help in dealing with a new issue, it fell on deaf ears. At times in San Diego, we had 2,000 or more aliens sitting in between the fences asking to turn themselves in,” said Heitke.

Heitke mentioned numerous calls from local officials questioning the mass release of migrants. He described how large groups overwhelmed Border Patrol agents, leaving border zones unmonitored. He also noted an increase in migrants from countries labeled as “Special Interest Aliens” due to national security concerns but claimed he was instructed not to release information about this rise. He questioned why the administration only recently pressured Mexico to take action to stop more migrants despite the ongoing crisis.

Efforts by the House Committee on Homeland Security

The House Committee on Homeland Security, led by Chairman Mark E. Green, released a report accusing the Biden-Harris administration of creating a border crisis by design. The report claims President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other officials schemed to open borders and reduce interior enforcement, leading to a surge in illegal immigration. Transcriptions of interviews with former CBP officials and Border Patrol agents support the report’s claims.

“Since January 2021, the American people have watched in horror as Biden and Harris have opened our borders, tied the hands of DHS law enforcement, and left our communities to deal with the consequences. This report serves as a reckoning for them,” Chairman Green said upon the report’s release.

Key consequences, according to the report, include over two million “gotaways” recorded by CBP, infiltration by transnational gangs, and 388 illegal aliens on the terrorist watchlist apprehended since FY2021. The report criticizes Harris’ performance as “border czar,” stating she failed to deliver effective solutions. The Committee calls for bipartisan action to end the crisis and secure the borders.

Call for Action

Since January 2021, over 10.3 million inadmissible aliens have entered the U.S., a 200% increase from the previous administration. The Biden-Harris administration has reportedly released or allowed over 7 million inadmissible aliens into the interior, leading to significant financial and security burdens on American communities. Heitke and the House Committee on Homeland Security emphasize the need for immediate policy revisions and stricter immigration enforcement to mitigate the crisis and ensure national security.

Recommendations stress the urgent need to secure the border, reduce illegal immigration, and alleviate the burdens on American communities and law enforcement agencies.