House Republicans sent a sharp letter to the Biden administration, requesting that the president "immediately terminate" the program that has allowed the entry of almost 320,000 migrants into the country.
Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., wrote to acting director Troy Miller of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), saying, "We write today to express our grave concerns over the Biden administration's actions to fly approximately 320,000 illegal immigrants from Latin American airports to 43 cities across the United States."
"These hidden flights have worsened the impact of the already unusual situation at the Southern Border," the letter said.
Joins GOP Call for Answers on Secret Migrant Flights
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 28: The Republican side of the House chamber stands and applauds as U.S. President George W. Bush delivers his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol January 28, 2008 in Washington, DC. Bush, in his last address, spoke on such topics as the uncertainty of the economy, improving education, the status of the war in Iraq, and immigration reform. (Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Representative Fry is asking the Biden administration to provide detailed information on the placement of illegal immigrants into the nation, joining 22 other GOP legislators in doing so, as worries about the southern border situation continue to increase.
Expressing significant concern, Fry referenced a report by the Center for Immigration Studies that revealed the utilization of "secret flights" by CBP to transport undocumented individuals from Latin America to different US communities.
In a formal statement, Fry made the essence of ending this practice, presenting the potential dangers of allowing illegal immigrants to enter the country without proper scrutiny. In light of the unfortunate passing of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, there is a growing demand for transparency.
Fry emphasized the importance of implementing policies that focus on protecting American citizens and avoiding future incidents caused by illegal immigration.
The South Carolina representative pointed out alarming statistics under President Biden's tenure, revealing that in 2023, 340 individuals stopped at the Southern Border were on the terrorist watchlist.
Expressing deep concern, Fry emphasized the need to address the possibility of more individuals with terror connections being flown into cities across the United States, according to Fox News.
Additionally, the Biden administration's decision to allow 30,000 asylum seekers per month into the US from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela has drawn scrutiny. The migrants, processed through the CBP One mobile application, have arrived in significant numbers, with 327,000 asylum seekers admitted through the parole program by December.
The CBP One app, also employed for family reunification, has facilitated the entry of individuals from several countries, further contributing to the surge.
Programs like this haven't stopped a rise in unauthorized border crossings. In December, a significant milestone was reached with more than 302,000 apprehensions, which is comparable to the population of Pittsburgh. In January, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas admitted that more than 85% of individuals detained for illegal border crossings were being released into the US, marking a significant rise from previous months.
The crucial backlog in processing asylum applications has resulted in delays of almost ten years in resolving asylum claims, causing millions to live in uncertainty.
The budget years 2022 and 2023 saw record-breaking numbers of apprehensions along the US-Mexico border, totaling 2.4 million and 2.5 million, respectively. The ongoing challenges require urgent attention, with legislators pushing for accountability and efficient solutions to tackle the intricate issues related to immigration and border security, New York Post reported.
