Asked About the 'Biden Border Crisis' Hearing, Jean-Pierre Says Republicans Should Deal With Inflation (January 25, 2023)

The new Republican House was about to put the border on trial, and the White House wanted to talk about inflation instead. On Jan. 25, 2023, a reporter Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Michael asked about the first hearing.

“The House Judiciary Committee is planning its first hearing next week on what it’s calling the ‘Biden border crisis.’ I wanted to see if you have a reaction to that. And also, can you talk a little bit about the Wh- — how the White House is preparing for all of these investigations that House Republicans are planning?” [1]

“So, look, this is something my colleagues at the White House Council has been dealing with and responding to the committee,” Jean-Pierre began, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

Then she pivoted. “You know, during the midterms, you — we’ve heard from congressional members, Republicans in particular, that their focus was going to be on lowering costs for the American people, dealing with inflation, which is something the President has been doing for the last — for the last two years,” she said [1].

“And in — on brand, they decided to do the opposite of that: to not deal with inflation, to not work with us in a bipartisan way to continue to — to — to really, truly work for the American people. That’s what we’re seeing,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the Jan. 25, 2023, briefing. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project, the House Judiciary Committee, Cronkite News and the Clerk of the House [1][2][3][4].

”In a Good-Faith Fashion”

She said the White House would cooperate, with conditions. “My colleagues have said this before; I’ll repeat what they have said: We are — we are, you know, willing to work with — with the — with the committee in a good-faith fashion. But again, it has to be in a good-faith fashion,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

“But again, this is — you know, this is — they are doing the complete opposite of what they said that they would do during the midterms,” she added [1].

”Under President Biden There Is No Border”

The hearing went ahead a week later. The committee announced that “The hearing, ‘Biden’s Border Crisis – Part One,’ will examine border security, national security, and how fentanyl has impacted American lives.” [2]

The new chairman offered a blunt comparison. “Under President Trump the border was secure. Under President Biden there is no border,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. “And Americans are paying the price.” [3]

Cochise County, Arizona, Sheriff Mark Dannels described what he was seeing. “I’ve personally experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of being a border county,” Dannels testified. “Currently, this is the ugliest I’ve experienced.” [3]

“I work with many border patrol agents, federal agents, and to date I have never heard one say that it’s working: the morale, the frustration they feel, the frustration we feel,” the sheriff said. “We’ve had to step up our game.” [3]

Dannels, who leads the Border Security Committee for the National Sheriffs’ Association, “said local police efforts to reach out to federal officials have been largely rebuffed by the administration,” Cronkite News reported. He also agreed with Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, “who said policy changes would be a more effective way to support local law enforcement.” [3]

“I represent a rural community on the border. My goal is to share the reality,” Dannels said. “We’ll continue to do it till we see a change that enhances the quality of life for my community.” [3]

The Numbers Behind the Hearing

The figures backed up the sheriff. “The number of migrants apprehended at the southern border reached a record 2.38 million in fiscal 2022. That pace continued into fiscal 2023, with more than 700,000 encounters in the first three months of the fiscal year, capped by a record 251,487 in December,” Cronkite News reported [3].

“Seizures of fentanyl at ports of entry rose more than 200% over the last two years, according to Customs and Border Protection data, with 14,699 pounds seized in fiscal 2022,” the report said [3].

Republicans also aimed at the man in charge. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., “introduced a resolution calling for Mayorkas to be impeached,” Cronkite News reported. If Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas supports the administration’s border policies, Biggs said, “then he must be impeached because he is a public official who has lost public trust and is an immediate, imminent threat to the United States of America.” [3]

By the Numbers

• 2.38 million: record southern border apprehensions in fiscal 2022 [3].
• 251,487: encounters in December 2022, then a monthly record [3].
• 14,699 pounds: fentanyl seized at ports of entry in fiscal 2022 [3].
• 214-213: the House vote to impeach Mayorkas in 2024 [4].

What Happened Next

The House impeached Mayorkas. On Feb. 13, 2024, the House voted 214 to 213 on H. Res. 863, “Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors,” according to the Clerk of the House. All 214 yes votes came from Republicans [4].

For Jean-Pierre on Big Tech layoffs at the same briefing, see HYGO News’ page on Jan. 25, 2023. For Texas hiring its own border czar a week later, see the page on Feb. 2, 2023.

Sources

1. The American Presidency Project: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby (January 25, 2023)
2. House Judiciary Committee: The Biden Border Crisis – Part I (February 1, 2023)
3. Cronkite News: Cochise sheriff comes to ‘share the reality’ of border in House testimony (February 1, 2023)
4. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives: Roll Call 43, H. Res. 863 (February 13, 2024)