WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) and Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA)  announced a joint hearing for Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 10:00 AM ET to examine the terror threats to the homeland as a consequence of the worst border crisis in American history—a crisis knowingly orchestrated by President Joe Biden, Vice President and border czar Kamala Harris, and now-impeached Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. After receiving an official invitation in May, DHS indicated they were unwilling to testify before the subcommittees publicly on this topic. 

“It seems nearly every week we hear terrifying reports of someone with terrorist ties being arrested inside the United States after having crossed our southern border,” Chairman Pfluger said. “These suspected terrorists entered our country either undetected, or were allowed to roam free for weeks, months, or years as DHS law enforcement cannot adequately vet the historic number of illegal crossers. Further troubling is the fact that these suspected terrorists are working with smuggling networks to facilitate their travel from outside of the Western Hemisphere.  The vulnerable national security position our country is in because of President Biden and Vice President ‘Border Czar’ Harris’ open-borders policy is a horrific reality and one we must face head-on. DHS’s refusal to testify publicly before this committee shows they either do not share the same concern or are unwilling to accept responsibility for a disaster of their own creation. We must honestly evaluate the threats coming through our borders—how they get here, what their intentions are, and how they are slipping through the cracks and into our communities. I look forward to gaining insight from experts on this pressing issue and continuing our work to secure the homeland.”

“The Biden-Harris border crisis has brought generational trauma to this nation by leaving the American people vulnerable to suspected terrorists who breach our sovereign border, either undetected or processed and released, to carry out nefarious acts in our own backyard,” Chairman Higgins said. “The sheer volume of individuals going unnoticed or being released is a danger to our Republic. It is our duty to understand and counter the glaring vulnerabilities of this administration’s border policies. I look forward to hearing from our expert witnesses on how we can combat the failures of the Biden-Harris legacy.”

DETAILS:

What: A joint Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence and Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement hearing entitled, “Beyond the Border: Terrorism and Homeland Security Consequences of Illegal Immigration.”

When: Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 10:00 AM ET

Where: 310 Cannon House Office Building

WITNESSES:

Kelly Brown, DBA
Private Citizen

Timothy J. Healy
Private Citizen

Alex Nowrasteh
Vice President, Economic and Social Policy Studies, Cato Institute

Witnesses will be announced here. The hearing will be livestreamed on YouTube and will be open to the public and press.

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