House Republicans launched a formal investigation into Biden’s disastrous border policies that allowed over 10 million illegal immigrants to enter the United States during his administration.
Key Takeaways
- A House Homeland Security subcommittee will hold hearings titled “Consequences of Failure: How Biden’s Policies Fueled the Border Crisis” to investigate the previous administration’s border security failures.
- Custom and Border Protection data indicates over 10 million people entered the U.S. illegally during Biden’s term, with 662,000 having criminal convictions or pending charges.
- Biden’s termination of Trump-era policies like “Remain in Mexico” and implementation of “catch and release” practices are central to the investigation.
- The illegal immigration surge placed massive financial burdens on U.S. cities, with New York City alone spending $3.75 billion on asylum-seeker services in fiscal year 2024.
- Fentanyl trafficking surged during Biden’s administration, with CBP seizing over 68,000 pounds compared to 20,000 pounds during Trump’s first term.
Congressional Investigation Launched Into Biden Border Crisis
The House Homeland Security Committee’s subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement is initiating a comprehensive investigation into the Biden administration’s border policies. The hearings, titled “Consequences of Failure: How Biden’s Policies Fueled the Border Crisis,” mark the first border security hearing of the 119th Congress. Republicans aim to examine how Biden’s policy decisions allegedly created what they describe as the worst border crisis in American history. The investigation will seek to determine accountability for the massive influx of illegal immigrants and establish recommendations to prevent similar situations in the future.
Representative Michael Guest, chairman of the subcommittee, has been vocal about the purpose of the hearings. The investigation will focus on Biden’s rescission of Trump-era policies that had previously established stronger control of the southern border. Guest and his colleagues plan to document the impacts of Biden’s border policies, including their economic and social consequences on American communities, and explore potential legislative solutions to strengthen border security under the Trump administration’s current direction.
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Biden’s Controversial Border Policies Under Scrutiny
The investigation will specifically examine several key policy decisions made by the Biden administration. Chief among these was the termination of the “Remain in Mexico” program, which had required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed. Biden also reinstated “catch and release” practices, allowing many illegal immigrants to enter and remain in the United States pending court hearings. Additionally, the subcommittee will review Biden’s implementation of mass parole programs through the CBP One app and special programs for certain nationalities.
“There is no question that Joe Biden and his reckless administration created the worst border crisis in American history,” Subcommittee Chairman Michael Guest said.
According to Customs and Border Protection data cited by the committee, more than 10 million people entered the United States illegally during Biden’s administration. Perhaps more alarming to security experts is the statistic that over 662,000 of these individuals had criminal convictions or pending charges. Republicans have pointed to specific cases where American citizens lost their lives in incidents involving illegal immigrants who entered during this period, fueling public outrage and calls for accountability.
Financial and Public Health Impacts
The investigation will also address the substantial financial burdens placed on American cities and states due to the migrant surge. New York City alone reportedly spent $3.75 billion on asylum-seeker services in fiscal year 2024. The hearings will feature testimony from expert witnesses including Lora Ries, Ammon Blair, and Jon Anfinsen, who are expected to provide detailed analyses of these economic impacts and recommendations for mitigating the ongoing effects of the previous administration’s policies.
“These failures took the lives of innocent Americans and led to the unimaginable abuse of vulnerable men, women, and children along their journey to our doorstep.” – Rep. Michael Guest
Drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, emerged as a critical concern during Biden’s term. Customs and Border Protection seized over 68,000 pounds of fentanyl under Biden, compared to approximately 20,000 pounds during Trump’s first term. This dramatic increase coincided with fentanyl becoming the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, establishing a public health crisis that the current administration and Congress are now attempting to address through enhanced border security measures and drug interdiction efforts.
Building on Trump’s Border Security Progress
The subcommittee hearings come as President Trump’s administration works to reverse the border situation inherited from Biden. Guest and other Republican representatives have praised the progress made in the first months of Trump’s return to office, while emphasizing the importance of documenting the previous administration’s failures to inform future policy. The hearings are positioned not only as an investigative measure but as part of a broader strategy to support and enhance the Trump administration’s ongoing border security initiatives.
“After just two months in office, the Trump administration has restored law and order at our borders. But this victory, and the historic crisis that preceded it, did not happen overnight,” said Rep. Michael Guest
The investigation is scheduled to begin next month with additional hearings planned throughout the year. Committee members have indicated they will use their findings to develop comprehensive legislative recommendations aimed at preventing future border security lapses. As the hearings proceed, the Trump administration continues implementing stricter enforcement policies that proponents claim are already showing positive results in reducing illegal border crossings and restoring operational control of the southern border.
Sources:
- EXCLUSIVE: House Subcommittee to Examine Biden Admin’s ‘Failure’ at Southern Border
- “Part 1: Consequences of Failure: How Biden’s Policies Fueled the Border Crisis” | Congress.gov
