House Republicans are launching a formal inquiry into Biden’s border policies that allowed over 10 million illegal immigrants to enter the United States, as a security subcommittee prepares to investigate what critics call “the worst border crisis in American history.”
Quick Takes
- A House Homeland Security subcommittee will hold hearings titled “Consequences of Failure: How Biden’s Policies Fueled the Border Crisis” as the first border security hearing of the 119th Congress.
- Over 10 million people entered the U.S. illegally during the Biden administration, with more than 662,000 having criminal convictions or pending charges.
- Biden ended Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy and implemented “catch and release” practices that Republicans blame for American deaths and financial burdens on cities.
- Fentanyl trafficking surged under Biden, with CBP seizing over 68,000 pounds compared to 20,000 pounds during Trump’s first term.
- The Trump administration has begun reversing Biden’s border policies after taking office in 2025.
Investigation Into “Worst Border Crisis in American History”
The House Subcommittee on Homeland Security is preparing to hold hearings examining what they describe as a catastrophic failure in border security during the Biden administration. The hearings, titled “Consequences of Failure: How Biden’s Policies Fueled the Border Crisis,” will focus on policy decisions that allegedly led to more than 10 million undocumented immigrants entering the United States. This represents the first border security hearing of the 119th Congress and aims to analyze the impact of abandoning Trump-era border policies in favor of what critics call a more permissive approach.
Representative Michael Guest, who will lead the hearings, has been vocal in his criticism of the previous administration’s border strategy. The panel will hear testimony from border security experts Lora Ries, Ammon Blair, and National Border Patrol Council representative Jon Anfinsen, who are expected to detail the consequences of policy changes initiated in January 2021. Under scrutiny will be Biden’s termination of the “Remain in Mexico” policy and the reinstatement of “catch and release” practices that allowed migrants to enter the country while awaiting immigration proceedings.
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The Human and Economic Cost
According to data to be presented at the hearings, more than 662,000 individuals who entered the country illegally during the Biden administration had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Republicans have linked these entries to tragic incidents, including the murder of a Georgia nursing student allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant. The investigation will examine these cases as evidence of what they characterize as policy failures with deadly consequences for American citizens.
“There is no question that Joe Biden and his reckless administration created the worst border crisis in American history,” said Michael Guest.
The financial impact on American cities will also be under examination. New York City alone reportedly spent $3.75 billion on services for asylum seekers in fiscal year 2024. The burden on local governments, healthcare systems, and educational institutions has strained municipal budgets across the country, particularly in border states and major metropolitan areas that have received large numbers of migrants. These economic consequences will be central to the committee’s assessment of the long-term impact of the previous administration’s immigration policies.
The Fentanyl Crisis Connection
Another key focus of the investigation will be the connection between border security and drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl. Customs and Border Protection reportedly seized over 68,000 pounds of fentanyl during the Biden administration, compared to approximately 20,000 pounds during Trump’s first term. This synthetic opioid has become the leading cause of death for Americans between 18 and 45 years old, surpassing car accidents and other traditional causes of mortality in this age group.
“These failures took the lives of innocent Americans and led to the unimaginable abuse of vulnerable men, women, and children along their journey to our doorstep,” Guest said.
The subcommittee will investigate whether policy changes, including the use of the CBP One app for processing asylum seekers and specific programs for certain nationalities, inadvertently facilitated drug trafficking operations. The relationship between cartel activities and immigration patterns represents a significant national security concern that will be addressed during the hearings. The investigation comes as President Trump has already begun implementing new border security measures aimed at reversing the previous administration’s approach.
Looking Forward: Trump’s Border Policy Restoration
As the congressional investigation gets underway, the Trump administration has already begun implementing changes to border policy. According to Representative Guest, “After just two months in office, the Trump administration has restored law and order at our borders.” The hearings will not only examine past failures but are expected to recommend strategies for further strengthening border security. These recommendations will likely align with Trump’s campaign promises to reimplement stricter immigration controls and complete construction of the border wall.
The subcommittee’s findings could significantly influence future legislation on immigration and border security. With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House, any recommendations from these hearings might face fewer obstacles to implementation than similar proposals during the previous divided government. The investigation represents an early priority for the new Congress as it addresses what many conservatives consider one of the most consequential policy failures of the Biden years.
Sources:
- EXCLUSIVE: House Subcommittee to Examine Biden Admin’s ‘Failure’ at Southern Border
- “Part 1: Consequences of Failure: How Biden’s Policies Fueled the Border Crisis” | Congress.gov
