Portman speaks on losing Title 42
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, delivered an opening statement at a hearing with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, to examine the resources and authorities DHS needs to protect and secure the homeland. Portman pressed Secretary Mayorkas on the ongoing failure of DHS to address the border crisis, which is currently facing the highest number of unlawful migrants coming over the border in more than two decades. Portman highlighted that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are overwhelmed by the surge of unlawful migrants at our southern border as well as the record amounts of illicit deadly drugs, like fentanyl, coming across the border and into the United States.
Portman discussed how the March CBP operational statistics showed fentanyl seizures at the southern border increased 56 percent in March compared to March 2021 a year ago and over 300 percent increase from March 2020. Those same statistics showed a 33 percent increase in encounters of unlawful migrants at the southern border compared to February and a 78 percent increase from last March, and a 300 percent increase from March 2020. Portman discussed the need for the administration to put in place smart policies that address the need for legal and orderly processes for migration and reduce the pull factors that encourage unlawful migration.
In addition, Portman expressed his frustration on the lack of proper screening and vetting for Afghan evacuees after the administration’s chaotic evacuation as well the need to improve the intelligence and information sharing between other countries with regard to high-risk individuals coming into the United States. Portman highlighted how the recent hostage situation at the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas occurred because of gaps and weaknesses in DHS‘ systems and processes for screening criminals and extremists seeking entry into the United States.portman also voiced his deep concerns with the administration’s decision to create a Disinformation Governance Board at DHS. As the author of the bipartisan law that established the Global Engagement Center to combat the constantly evolving threat of foreign propaganda and disinformation abroad,
Portman does not believe that the United States government should turn the tools that we have used to assist our allies counter foreign adversaries onto the American people.
Finally, Portman highlighted the need for DHS to significantly enhance our nation’s ability to combat ongoing cybersecurity threats against our critical infrastructure and the federal government. He expressed his concern that Russia may use cybersecurity vulnerabilities to attack the United States in retaliation for our just support of Ukraine.