Congressmembers Langworthy, Zinke, Kelly, and Stefanik Call On Mayorkas To Secure Northern Border

WASHINGTON, DC – While all the attention has been centered on the crisis at the Southern border, cartels and other smugglers are taking full advantage of the Biden Administration’s open border policies and have recognized that the Northern border is just as porous, causing an 846% spike in illegal crossings compared to the same time last year.

Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Congressman Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16), and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) are sounding the alarm and urging Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas take immediate action to secure our Northern border before the crisis balloons to what is occurring in the South.

“Business is booming for cartels smuggling humans and drugs across the open Southern border so it would be ridiculous to think that they wouldn’t expand their operations to the North,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23). “You don’t have to be a betting man to be able to predict that this was going to happen when the Administration is projecting a giant neon sign declaring “we’re open” with no consequences. We need to stop this now, before it balloons even more out of control—the security of our citizens and our nation are at serious risk.”

"The first thing bad guys do is go where the good guys aren’t," said Rep. Ryan Zinke (MT-01), Northern Border Security Caucus Co-Chair. "Right now, all our good guys are dealing with Biden’s crisis on the Southwest border leaving the north unprotected and vulnerable to criminals, cartels and terrorists. "By establishing the caucus, we will provide critical oversight and expose the truth to the American people about the nationwide crisis this administration has willingly caused."

“The numbers don’t lie: the Biden administration’s open-border policies have allowed for a surge in human and drug smuggling across the U.S.-Canadian border, the longest international border in the world,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Northern Border Security Caucus Co-Chair. “I am proud to lead this letter alongside my colleagues demanding Secretary Mayorkas answer to the Department’s failures along the northern border. Americans want a safe nation with secure borders. This administration has refused to work for it’s people and I intend on holding them accountable.”

“Joe Biden has failed to secure the Southern Border and brought his crisis home to my district along the Northern Border,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) “Now that the Biden Administration can no longer ignore their full crisis at the Northern Border, they must immediately take action and secure our borders. I’m calling on Secretary Mayorkas to immediately address this failure to end the Biden Administration’s border crisis forced on taxpayers and Upstate New York communities. Upstate families deserve this transparency to know exactly how Joe Biden plans to secure our Northern Border as a matter of national security.”

In the letter, with support of 25 of their colleagues, the members write, “These surges in border encounters and drug smuggling coupled with a shortage of Border Patrol agents and lack of security measures place America’s northern border at serious risk. As winter turns to spring, we are deeply concerned the northern Border Patrol agents will be overwhelmed, under-resourced, and under-manned. We ask that you provide a full account of what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will do to mitigate the flow of illegal migrants and illicit drugs into the U.S. across our northern border.”

The Biden Administration must end their open border policies, lives are on the line and the American people are sick and tired of dealing with the incompetency of leadership.

Read the full letter here.

Congressman Nick Langworthy represents the 23rd Congressional District of New York which includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties and parts of Erie County. Visit langworthy.house.gov.

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