The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), has escalated its scrutiny of the Biden administration’s handling of the border crisis, issuing a subpoena to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra. The subpoena demands information regarding the department’s efforts to track unaccompanied migrant children who have crossed the border. This move is seen as a direct challenge to Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been tasked with addressing the root causes of mass migration from Central and South America, and is facing increasing scrutiny from Republicans.
The committee alleges that HHS has lost track of thousands of children after placing them with sponsors, including illegal immigrants. They accuse the department of obstructing their oversight efforts and failing to provide information on the number of children they have been unable to contact after being placed with sponsors.
“According to new Committee estimates, ‘Border Czar’ Kamala Harris and HHS have LOST contact with 145,000+ unaccompanied alien children after placing them with sponsors, including ILLEGAL ALIENS,” the committee posted on X. “We’re subpoenaing more information from ‘Border Czar’ Harris and HHS about these UACs.”
Chairman Jordan claims that HHS has been unresponsive to their requests for information, despite acknowledging their inquiries. He states that the department spent over a year obstructing the committee’s oversight efforts, and now they are left with no choice but to issue a subpoena to compel the production of information.
While the subpoena does not directly target Vice President Harris, it is part of broader Republican efforts to scrutinize her record on border security, especially in the lead-up to the November election. The GOP has been critical of her handling of the border crisis, citing the influx of migrants and the perceived lack of progress on tackling the root causes of migration.
In addition to the subpoena, the committee is planning two hearings on “the Biden-Harris Border Crisis.” One hearing will be held in Harris’ home state of California, while another will take place in Washington, D.C.
The committee’s actions come amidst a larger debate over immigration policy and the role of the government in managing the influx of migrants at the southern border. The situation has become increasingly politicized, with both sides using it as a platform to push their agendas and criticize the other party.
HHS has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, while the Vice President’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
