Representative Mike Garcia (CA-25) joined a group of over 130 lawmakers in raising concerns regarding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ suitability for office. Garcia and the lawmakers sent a letter sharing concerns over the Secretary’s refusal to uphold the law amid the migrant crisis at the southern border.

“We write to address your actions to dismantle the security of our nation’s southern border and disregard for the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. Your actions have willingly endangered American citizens and undermined the rule of law and our nation’s sovereignty. Your failure to secure the border and enforce the laws passed by Congress raises grave questions about your suitability for office,” the lawmakers wrote.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there were over 221,000 migrant encounters at the southern border during the month of March, which is a 542% increase from 2020. 

“In fiscal year 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded nearly 2 million illegal aliens trying to cross the southern border into the United States. These numbers included individuals whose names appeared on the terrorist watchlist, and individuals from adversarial nations, such as Russia and China,” the lawmakers wrote. 

In the letter, the lawmakers urged Mayorkas to uphold Title 42 and enforce the rule of law by taking all actions necessary to secure the southern border.

“The historic crisis at our southern border is set to worsen greatly due to the announced rescission of Title 42, which will bring a tidal wave of illegal immigrants across our southern border and overwhelm the already overworked and understaffed agents of the U.S. Border Patrol,” the lawmakers wrote. “The well-resourced cartels, gang members, human traffickers, and drug smugglers will exploit this crisis to further endanger American citizens.”

The current lack of border security is impacting more than just border towns. In California’s 25th District, transnational criminal organizations have been running thousands of illegal marijuana grows throughout the Antelope Valley, Acton, and Agua Dulce. While these grows have been impacting California’s 25th District for the past few years, the Biden administration’s open border policies have fueled the problem in recent months. Garcia, in addition to calling for the need to secure the border, has drawn national attention to the issue that recently resulted in the largest illegal drug bust in L.A. County History. 

Click here to read the full letter.