'Has Secretary Mayorkas Ever Lied To You?': Rep. Matt Gaetz Questions Witness during a House Hearing in Yuma, AZ

 

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

At today's House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Yuma, Arizona, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) spoke to witnesses about the border.

In a recent House Judiciary Committee field hearing in Yuma, Arizona, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) addressed witnesses about the border crisis. He began by stating that the people of Yuma deserve better from the federal government than they have been getting, and that it is up to the House of Representatives to fight for them. Gaetz pointed out that not a single Democrat was present at the briefing, showing that this is a deeply unserious exercise.

Dr. Trenchel, one of the witnesses, explained that one in four of the migrants who use birthing services at their hospital require neonatal Intensive Care Unit Services (NICU), a rate much higher than that of the non-migrant population. With only 20 beds at any given time, they often fill up due to the pressure of migrant communities. When they do, residents of Yuma have to fly their babies to Phoenix or another location 170 miles away. Gaetz emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying that there are few prayers more sincere and deeper than the prayers of parents when their little babies are at the NICU.

Supervisor Alliance was then questioned by Gaetz about Secretary Mayorkas, who frequently testifies that the most important partnerships for the Department of Homeland Security are those with local officials. Gaetz asked Alliance if Mayorkas had ever lied to him, to which Alliance replied in the affirmative. Alliance explained that almost a year ago, he and the mayor had the opportunity to visit with Mayorkas, the Yuma sector chief, and the chief of the entire border patrol at sector headquarters. During that meeting, Mayorkas committed to reviewing the border from the ground and the air to specifically address "nine of the 11 Yuma gaps." When Gaetz asked how many of those gaps had been addressed to date, Alliance replied, "So far, none."

Alliance and Yuma sector border patrol staff followed up multiple times with undersecretaries and were told time and time again that contracts were being issued, but the process kept getting pushed out. Gaetz wondered if a reasonable person would observe that this was on purpose, and Alliance replied that it was not reasonable. Gaetz then stated that if Mayorkas would lie to Alliance and the community, he would also lie to Congress and the American people. Gaetz co-sponsored Representatives Biggs' articles of impeachment against Mayorkas because this is not a lack of ability, but a lack of will.

Mr. Owens was the last to speak and emphasized the violence of the cartels at the border. He and the sheriff had been made aware of over 200 assassinations in San Luis Rio Colorado over the last 14 months, where cartels were targeting law enforcement. Owens stressed that the violence was at the border and that the cartels were in control. He called for an administration that has the will to secure our borders and take control back.

The hearing revealed that the border crisis is a serious issue that affects communities in multiple ways. The lack of progress in addressing the Yuma gaps, combined with the high rate of NICU services required by migrant communities, shows that there is a clear need for immediate action. Additionally, the violence from cartels and the lack of will from the administration to secure the border demonstrates the need for strong leadership and a dedicated effort to address these problems.