U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, recently joined 14 of her Senate Republican colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden to express concerns regarding his Executive Order that would offer amnesty to illegal aliens unlawfully present in the United States. This letter was led by U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.).
“We have previously challenged the legality of your Administration’s parole authority and have sought to reform this authority to ensure that decisions regarding parole are restored to Congress’ original intent – ‘on a case-by-case basis’ to aliens who are not already present in the US. Under your Administration, the parole authority has been unlawfully used to circumvent screening and vetting, mass parole of illegal aliens after the cartels surge caravans at the border, and to circumvent normal refugee processing. These actions undermine the immigration laws Congress has passed, and they have eroded the rule of law at our southern border,” the senators wrote.
“Border security is national security, and our adversaries will continue to take advantage of the chaos your Administration created by announcing this policy. We urge you to rescind this policy immediately and focus your efforts on securing our border against the cartels and adversaries who will welcome this chaos,” they concluded.
Senator Capito has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration’s border policies. Recently, she spoke at a Senate Republican Leadership Press Conference about how an open border endangers national security and American citizens.
The full text of their letter reads:
Dear President Biden:
We write today to express our grave concerns regarding your proposal to offer amnesty to illegal aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States. This action directly contravenes the laws Congress has passed, and it will throw fuel on the fire of the ongoing border crisis.
We have previously challenged the legality of your Administration’s parole authority and have sought to reform this authority to ensure that decisions regarding parole are restored to Congress’ original intent— “on a case-by-case basis” to aliens who are not already present in the US. Under your Administration, the parole authority has been unlawfully used to circumvent screening and vetting, mass parole of illegal aliens after cartels surge caravans at the border, and circumvent normal refugee processing. These actions undermine immigration laws Congress has passed, eroding rule of law at our southern border.
Parole was never intended as mass amnesty. Your actions contradict clear readings of law. Due to reckless policies, your Administration has encountered more illegal aliens at our southern border than both Obama’s and Trump’s administrations combined. DHS recently promulgated regulations appearing tough on borders; however, policy guidance from DHS shows what all Americans know—the border remains wide open.
Since day one of your Administration, you rolled back measures securing our borders: Remain in Mexico program, asylum cooperative agreements, ICE enforcement priorities preventing deportation for most illegal immigrants—inviting chaos now present at borders nationwide.
Numerous inspector general reports reveal DHS overwhelmed by crises unable vetting cross-border immigrants adequately—CBP encountering nearly 180K illegals April 2024—a record but surpassed earlier fiscal year months October-December set records highest encounters recorded prior years combined—ICE arresting eight ISIS-K tied illegals with more anticipated arrests forthcoming—border security apparatus failed overwhelmed volume crossing DHS custody unvetted individuals doubling down messaging world America won’t enforce southern borders’ laws
Border security is national security; adversaries exploit chaos announced policy creating urging immediate rescinding focusing efforts securing borders combating welcoming chaos adversaries
Sincerely,
