January 31, 2023

20515 Dear Chairman Jordan, Ranking Member Nadler, and Members of the Committee: The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) respectfully submits this letter for entry into the record for your February 1, 2023, hearing, “The Biden Border Crisis — Part One.” POGO is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption, abuse of power, and when the government fails to se. [...] The United States, along with many countries in the western hemisphere, is experiencing historically high levels of migration, which presents serious logistical and humanitarian challenges along migration routes and at the U. [...] S.-Mexico border, the overwhelming majority of the drug is brought in by smugglers moving cargo through ports of entry, not migrants crossing the border between checkpoints.2 None of these problems constitute an “open border,” an “invasion,” or a sinister attempt to change the composition of the U. [...] These claims from media personalities, government officials, and even members of Congress are themselves dangerous: The “replacement theory” echoed in this rhetoric has inspired a growing number of white supremacist terrorist attacks over the last ten years.3 Continuing to close ports of entry to asylum seekers — through Title 42 or other means — and increasing the militarization of the U. [...] population.5 These powers, and the increasing politicization of the agency’s workforce, are ripe for abuse by a future authoritarian leader unless Congress and the administration put guardrails in place to protect our rights.