Ranking Members Raskin and Thompson Issue Statement Following Third Voluntary Transcribed Interview with Border Patrol Sector Chiefs

May 9, 2023
Press Release

Washington, D.C. (May 9, 2023)—Today, Committee on Oversight and Accountability Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, and Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson, issued the following statement after the Committees’ voluntary transcribed interview with U.S. Border Patrol agent Aaron Heitke, Chief Patrol Agent of the San Diego Sector:


“Today, the Committees completed their third transcribed interview with Border Patrol Sector Chiefs.  Through multiple hearings and voluntary interviews this Congress, we have now heard from five different Border Patrol Sector Chiefs and the Chief of the Border Patrol who have offered the same message:  that additional resources provided by the Biden-Harris Administration have helped the men and women of the Border Patrol with their critical work at the border and that more is still needed.

“While the Biden-Harris Administration has proposed a budget that provides these additional resources, last month Congressional Republicans overwhelmingly voted to squeeze 22% of vital funds away from Border Patrol, a loss of resources which Chief Heitke underscored would have detrimental effects on the work of his agents in the San Diego Sector.  The Republicans’ ‘Default on America Act’ significantly slashes Border Patrol’s budget that would help provide staffing necessary to process migrants at the border and protect our border.  Chief Heitke and Border Patrol agent Jason D. Owens, Chief Patrol Agent for the Del Rio Sector, who was interviewed last week, agreed these potential cuts all pose serious concerns for their respective sectors.

“Rather than chasing backwards budgetary policies that only make it harder for Border Patrol to do its job, Republicans should work with Democrats to help address the challenges at the border instead of multiplying them.”

###

118th Congress