A new bill in Congress proposes that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) be required to expeditiously release border encounter statistics on a monthly basis. If DHS fails to do so, the remuneration of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas would be reduced.
Border encounters have reached unprecedented levels and DHS has consistently failed to disclose encounter statistics in a timely fashion under the leadership of the recently impeached Mayorkas.
Encounter figures have remained a closely-guarded secret for up to three weeks after the end of each month for the past six months. The statistics are usually leaked over the weekend, in an attempt to minimize media scrutiny.
Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) has proposed legislation that would require DHS to disclose monthly border encounter figures within seven days of the end of each month.
“In an attempt to hide the monthly illegal crossings, they consistently withhold information until late on Fridays or even the weekends to attempt to hide the truth from Americans,” said Bice. “Our border is out of control and the lack of accountability is fostering chaos. My legislation, the Timely Reporting Act, restores transparency and forces the Biden Administration to report illegal migration data in a timely fashion.”
Noncompliance would have significant consequences; in case figures are not disclosed in time, the office of the secretary of DHS’ salary would be reduced by 25% the following month.
The Daily Wire continues:
Mayorkas, who currently makes a salary of $203,500 a year, could theoretically see his annual salary decline by over $50,000 if he missed the deadline for 12 consecutive months.
The embattled DHS Secretary has been accused of intentionally delaying border encounter figure releases to hide the true extent of the border crisis. “By strategically holding the release of these numbers until the Friday before Christmas, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is unabashedly showing the full measure of his duplicity,” Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Mark Green (R-TN) charged after the November 2023 figures were released just days before Christmas.
Mayorkas’ delayed release of the figures was not unique to November. In 2023, the figures for August weren’t released until Friday, September 22nd; the September figures were released Saturday, October 21st; and the December 2023 figures weren’t released until Friday, January 26th. All the releases showed near record-breaking immigration levels and caused a wave of negative headlines for the administration.
Bice’s office says the Timely Reporting Act already has 22 Republican co-sponsors.
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