According to a letter obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller News Foundation, more than 12 Republican legislators asked Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland (DHS), Tuesday to address the crisis at the northern frontier.
Recent data shows that the U.S.-Canadian border’s Swanton sector has seen a nearly 900% rise in migrant encounters. It covers portions of New York City and Vermont. The southern border has received a lot of attention, with major records for migrant encounters including over 2.3 million in fiscal 2022.
“We are writing to express our deep concern at the recent surge in border encounters near our country’s northern borders. This recent influx, together with spikes in drug trafficking and a lack of U.S. Border Patrol agents staffing, are yet another troubling example your failure to secure and protect the homeland,” said the lawmakers. Elise Stefanik is a New York Rep. and her district is located on the northern border.
America’s northern border is at grave risk due to increased border encounters and drug smuggling, as well as a shortage in Border Patrol agents and a lack of security measures. We are concerned that the northern Border Patrol agents in the spring will be more overwhelmed, under-resourced and under-manned as winter turns into spring,” the lawmakers wrote.
According to officials speaking with the DCNF, while the migrant crisis at the southern border is still ongoing despite a recent surge at the northern border. However, the federal government has now shifted resources. To help illegal migrants, Border Patrol agents were moved from the north to south.
The lawmakers asked for a complete account of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS), plans to reduce the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S. at our northern border.
DHS did not respond to a request for comment.