Sen. Ted Cruz, representing Texas, has urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to provide enhanced measures and more information to combat the escalating threats posed to Border Patrol agents at the southern border.
Sen. Cruz attributes these threats to an emboldened cartel presence and underlines the pressing need to secure the United States from these alarming risks.
Sen. Ted Cruz on agents
In a letter addressed to Secretary Mayorkas, Senator Cruz articulated his concerns, stating, “Your primary mission as Secretary is to secure the United States from threats, a task that can only be accomplished through the efforts of dedicated officers and agents who put their safety at risk on a daily basis. While there are numerous threats to our national security, few compare to the danger posed by our open southern border.”
Highlighting the July House testimony of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief, Cruz pointed out that border agents have been “performing bravely despite public attacks on their character and service, unfair and inadequate pay, and threats made against them and their families.”
Threat reports
Sen. Cruz went on to reference disturbing reports of text messages circulating in El Paso, Texas, soliciting personal information, including details about the agents’ families, accompanied by chilling threats of torture, with the intention to broadcast it online. While these reports have not been confirmed by Fox, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) emphasized its commitment to taking all threats, especially those directed at agents and their families, seriously.
Cartels emboldened
Cruz draws a direct connection between these threats and the policies of the Biden administration, asserting that the cartels are “emboldened by your failure of leadership at the border.” He highlighted increased cartel profits, the surge of fentanyl across the border, higher numbers of migrants being released into the interior, and record instances of “gotaways.”
Cruz’s appeal for action comes at a critical juncture as Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens reports that agents are encountering a growing number of illegal immigrants with “serious criminal histories” at the southern border, underscoring the urgency of addressing these challenges.
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