WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Chairman Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) announced a joint hearing next Tuesday, October 24 at 2:00 PM ET, to examine how President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ reckless open-border policies have empowered cartels in Mexico to expand lucrative human trafficking and smuggling operations across our porous Southwest border. This hearing comes as the House Committee on Homeland Security continues its comprehensive oversight investigation into the causes and consequences of our historic border crisis.

“Criminal cartels make billions by trafficking in human misery. Biden’s policies have actually enhanced cartel operations on the southern border,” Chairman Higgins said. “The sick infestation of cartel evil has spread far beyond the border to neighborhoods and cities across America, as men, women, and children are enslaved to criminal drug and sex trafficking networks. The Biden administration must be held accountable, and next week’s hearing is an important opportunity to further reveal how President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ partnership with cartels has brought generational trauma to the United States of America, including death to hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens.”

“Unprecedented human trafficking at the Southwest border has had devastating consequences for communities across the country, from Yuma County in Arizona to Nassau County in New York,” Chairman D’Esposito said. “Amid this massive influx, migrants have faced unimaginable, inhumane treatment at the hands of criminal cartels, and American lives have been taken by human smugglers attempting to evade apprehension by Border Patrol and other law enforcement. There is no doubt that Secretary Mayorkas and President Biden have tragically empowered vast human smuggling networks across our country with their reckless policies, leaving state and local law enforcement one step behind cartels, community emergency resources strained to the breaking point, and our streets less safe. Homeland Republicans are determined to shine a light on this humanitarian crisis and examine how it has affected the safety and security of Americans.”

DETAILS:
 
WHAT: A Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement and Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology hearing entitled “The Broken Path: How Transnational Criminal Organizations Profit from Human Trafficking at the Southwest Border”

DATE: Tuesday, October 24, 2023

TIME: 2:00 PM ET

LOCATION: 310 Cannon House Office Building

WITNESSES:

Witnesses will be announced and are by invitation only.

The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed on YouTube. Press must RSVP by Monday, October 23 at 6pm ET.

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