Rep. Obernolte, House Budget Committee receive briefing on southern border crisis, hold roundtable on Title 42

U.S. Congressmen Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) and other House Budget Committee members visited the southern border on Wednesday to receive briefings on border security and the impact of increasing border crossings on U.S. Customs and Border Patrol resources. The group also held a roundtable on the potential effects of ending Title 42.

“The crisis at our southern border has reached an untenable level with fentanyl, cartel-run marijuana grows, and human trafficking reaching levels never before seen in our non-border community as a direct result of this crisis,” said Rep. Obernolte. “Today, the House Budget Committee is meeting here at one of the largest migrant crossings along our southern border to address these issues and call for increased border security, the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws, and additional support for the law enforcement communities that are on the frontlines of this crisis.”

Customs and Border Protection data shows that the monthly total of illegal crossings at the southern border in April were the highest in CBP history, with 234,088 encounters. Of those, 41 percent were expelled under Title 42 while a shocking 117,989 were released into the United States. The numbers of encounters and migrants released into the country are expected to continue to rise.

Since the start of the new administration and the end of “Remain in Mexico” policy and construction of the border wall, over 2.6 million illegal immigrants have been apprehended at the southern border of the United States. In California’s 8^th District, the quantity of fentanyl and human trafficking have increased as this crisis has worsened. Southern California now faces a crisis of large cartel-run illegal marijuana grows centered around rural desert areas, and San Bernardino County has recently declared a fentanyl emergency with the Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team seizing approximately 769 pounds of fentanyl with an estimated wholesale value of more than $26 million in 2021. According to the Sheriff’s Department, most of these dangerous and illegal drugs unfortunately originated in Mexico and likely made their way across the border through the cartel-run drug trade. Additionally, fentanyl related deaths in San Bernardino County have seen a 656% increase since 2018.

See photos and videos from the House Budget Committee border trip here.