85% Release Rate for Illegal Aliens

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Chairman Tom McClintock (R-CA) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding information after the Secretary met with Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, where he acknowledged that more than 85 percent of illegal aliens encountered along the southwest border are being released into the interior of the country. Such an astronomical release rate shows a flagrant disrespect for the rule of law and for those Americans and legal immigrants who abide by the law.

Excerpts of the Letter to Secretary Mayorkas: 

"The Committee on the Judiciary and the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement continue to conduct oversight of the crisis at the southwest border. Since President Biden took office there have been 35 consecutive months in which Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has encountered more than 100,000 illegal aliens along the southwest border. In that time, CBP encounters of illegal aliens on the southwest border have totaled more than seven million, including an all-time monthly high of over 302,000 in December 2023.

"The incentives created by the Biden Administration's radical open-border policies continue to drive illegal immigration into the United States. Illegal aliens continue to cross our southwest border because they know that more likely than not, the Biden Administration will release them into the U.S. To make matters worse, the illegal aliens know that they will then be given a plane or bus ticket—at U.S. taxpayer expense—to whatever U.S. destination they desire. According to Department of Homeland Security data and sources, the Biden Administration has released more than 3.3 million illegal aliens into the United States.

"It is hard to think of a bigger incentive for illegal aliens to show up along the southwest border than the promise of being rewarded with a government-sanctioned stay in the United States. Yet two weeks ago you gave them one. According to press reports, on January 8, 'when meeting privately with [Border Patrol] agents in Eagle Pass, Texas,' you acknowledged that currently more than 85 percent of illegal aliens encountered at the southwest border are being released into the interior of the country. Such an astronomical release rate shows a flagrant disrespect for the rule of law and for those Americans and legal immigrants who abide by the law.

"Your frank admission about DHS's release rate demands our attention. Accordingly, to assist the Committee with its continued oversight of federal immigration policy and procedures, we ask that you please provide the following:

1. All data relating to and supporting your assertion that DHS has released into the interior over 85 percent of illegal aliens encountered at the southwest border;

2. All documents and communications between or among Department of Homeland Security or its components for the period January 20, 2021, to the present referring or relating to the above-referenced over-85 percent release rate for illegal aliens;

3. A numerical breakdown of all illegal alien releases at the southwest border since January 20, 2021, by release category, including the statutory basis for the release;

4. The Standard Lifecycle Table through December 31, 2023;

5. The CBP Bookouts Table through December 31, 2023;6. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Bookouts Table through December 31, 2023; and

7. On a monthly basis going forward, for the preceding month, no later than the 15th of each month,   

      a. The Standard Lifecycle Table;

      b. The CBP Bookouts Table; and

     c. The ICE Bookouts Table."Read the full letter to Secretary Mayorkas here.