He said the border agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security, previously rested on a “three-legged stool” that focused on investments in personnel, infrastructure and technology.
But changing conditions globally have made more emphasis on processing, a fourth element, “critical,” Ortiz said at the hearing. Ortiz also called for more Border Patrol agents to be hired.
“Back in 2012, I had 21,370 Border Patrol agents. Right now, I have 19,016. My requirement is 22,000 Border Patrol agents. Until I can get there, I’m going to require assistance from other agencies,” Ortiz said. “But right now, for me, my priority is doing everything I can to add more personnel to my ranks, so we can make sure that Border Patrol agents are out there doing that job.”
Ortiz indicated he would also support reinstating Trump-era immigration restrictions, including a policy that required migrants to wait in Mexico for decisions in their U.S. asylum cases. He said the department’s inability to return migrants to certain countries that have strained relations with the U.S., including Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua, has “been a challenge for us.”
“All of the tools DHS has at its disposal would allow us to do a better job managing this border,” Ortiz said.
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March 16, 2023 at 02:55AM
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Border chief asks House panel to boost migrant processing - Roll Call
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