The House Homeland Security Committee held a field hearing in McAllen, Texas on the border crisis, fulfilling a campaign promise to address the crisis where it is happening. The hearing included testimony from Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz. Democrats pulled out of participating with little notice to Chairman Mark Green (R-TN).

Democrat members of the committee were given a month’s notice of the hearing date and location. Many Democrat members had their travel arrangements made, according to reports. They scheduled a witness to testify at the hearing. He showed up anyway. The sudden change of plans likely was due to pressure from Democrat leadership. It would be embarrassing for the Biden administration if Democrats showed up and did their jobs while listening to the Border Patrol Chief criticize Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas for not doing their jobs, wouldn’t it? I don’t think either man cares but they should at least fake a little interest in what is happening on the southern border. So, they bailed on showing up at the committee hearing in McAllen, Texas on Wednesday. It’s shameful behavior but the White House and House Democrats called the field hearing playing “partisan games.” They accuse Republicans of refusing to support border security funding.

The Democrats and Joe Biden are trying to flip the script. Going into the 2024 presidential election, they know that Biden is very vulnerable on the topic of border security or the lack of border security. So, to make it seem like it is Republicans who are creating problems, Democrats are accusing Republicans of refusing to support bills that include border security funding. For example, Republicans did not support a $4.9 billion supplemental request in December. Democrats are conflating a refusal to vote in favor of excessive federal spending with failing to fund border security.

“Instead of playing partisan games at the border, extreme MAGA House Republicans should answer why they are proposing to cut border security funding by up to 20 percent, denying critical resources to the very law enforcement officers they claim to defend,” spokesperson Ian Sams said in a statement.

The White House also noted suggestions by Oversight Chair James Comer last year that “everything is about more money for the Biden administration” and that “we would love to cut off all funding for everything and have a discussion about how to secure this border.”

“The repeated efforts by House Republicans to threaten or vote against border funding reveal they are more interested in using this issue to lob debunked political attacks than actually working with the President on bipartisan solutions to strengthen our immigration system and border security,” Sams said. “Perhaps House Republicans could take the time at this hearing to look the Chief of the Border Patrol in the eye and honestly explain to him why they want to slash the funding needed to combat fentanyl trafficking, stop unlawful border crossings, and conduct other important law enforcement efforts at the border.”

“The repeated efforts by House Republicans to threaten or vote against border funding reveal they are more interested in using this issue to lob debunked political attacks than actually working with the President on bipartisan solutions to strengthen our immigration system and border security,” Sams said. “Perhaps House Republicans could take the time at this hearing to look the Chief of the Border Patrol in the eye and honestly explain to him why they want to slash the funding needed to combat fentanyl trafficking, stop unlawful border crossings, and conduct other important law enforcement efforts at the border.”

What a load of malarkey. Sams is almost as good at making up fantasies as his boss. They think that by throwing around the “MAGA Republicans” phrase that the audience will believe their statements.

Chairman Green pushed back on the excuse for the Biden border crisis is a lack of funding. He said it is the administration’s policies and the lack of leadership of secretary Mayorkas. He said that more Border Patrol agents and technology are important but the Biden border crisis is a result of his decisions and the incompetence of Mayorkas. I would argue, however, that Mayorkas is just carrying out Biden’s orders. Whether or not Mayorkas is capable of securing the southern border doesn’t really matter at this point because he is just carrying out Biden’s orders. Biden invited illegal immigrants during his presidential campaign and they believed him. That is why they are coming.

Chief Ortez was asked if DHS has operational control of the southern border. He said no. He said that many Border Patrol agents aren’t allowed to do their job of patrolling the border and investigating the cartels because they are pulled away to process the illegal immigrants. If the White House was truly concerned, the Border Patrol would be fully staffed. As it is they’re not and one factor is the low morale of agents. They are overworked and leaving their jobs. Border Patrol agents are retiring early or just quitting. Who can blame them? Theirs is an impossible job in Biden’s America.