First appearance on FOXSen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has warned about the impact the Biden administration's “open borders” policy is having on airport security, arguing that weak screening is putting safety at risk.
“The Department of Homeland Security, and particularly the TSA, must explain how it is addressing the Administration's open borders policies that are seriously undermining airport security and the safety of Americans,” Sen. Cruz, the ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said in a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Cruz has questioned various agencies and airports about the impact of immigration on airport safety and security, including the protection of immigrants at some of the country's major airports.
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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks at the Capitol in Washington, DC, Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Senator)
In his letter to Mayorkas, Cruz highlighted three points that he said show the Administration's open border policy is weakening airport security.
He first pointed to the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) humanitarian parole process, which allows up to 30,000 immigrants from those countries to enter the United States through humanitarian parole. The program was recently suspended due to mass fraud in sponsorship applications.
He also highlighted data showing that about 96% of people admitted via the CBP One app, which is used for both CHNV and border parole entrants, got an appointment.
Republican senators also cited flaws in parts of the app and its use of data, pointing to a recent Department of Homeland Security OIG report that also found it doesn't have access to all biometric data.
“Meanwhile, unscreened aliens are entering the United States while TSA is providing significant numbers of air marshals who are supposed to be guarding aircraft in the air and assisting CBP with its administrative operations at the southern border, a concern I raised with TSA last October,” he said.
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He also repeated earlier concerns about protecting migrants at airports in Chicago, Boston and New York from mid-2023 onwards. He also expressed concern about the release of migrants brought to the US by groups with ties to ISIS. Eight people with suspected ISIS ties were arrested across the US earlier this year.
“Airports remain an attractive target for those seeking to do harm to our country and its people,” he said.
Cruz is demanding all documents relating to airport security for illegal immigrants, immigrant protection, vetting and screening, and any irregularities discovered in the parole program.
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He also wants documentation on migrant protections at several airports, the number of migrants arriving by plane at the airports, and the steps taken to remove illegal immigrants from the airports.
The letter comes amid ongoing debate over the ongoing border crisis, with the Biden administration arguing that expanding legal channels has been successful in reducing border numbers while saying more funding and reforms are needed.
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Republicans argue the crisis is caused by Biden administration policies and the reversal of Trump administration measures.
