The House Homeland Security Committee is holding a field hearing in McAllen, Texas at the southern border.
During the hearing, Chairman Green asked US Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz if the DHS has operational control of the southern border.
Ortiz didn’t hesitate to say ‘no sir’.
Green then played a clip of Mayorkas being asked the same question in a prior hearing. Mayorkas claimed DHS did have operation control of the entire southern border.
Green then asked Ortiz of he thought Mayorkas was lying.
Watch:
Rep. Green: "Does DHS have operational control of our entire border?"
Border patrol chief Raul Ortiz: "No."
Green plays a clip of Mayorkas testifying that the U.S. does have control of the border.
"Do you think that Sec. Mayorkas is lying there?"
Ortiz does not answer. pic.twitter.com/tG9vPbdZc7
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) March 15, 2023
Ortiz isn’t going to call his boss a liar in a hearing like this, especially one that is being broadcast on TV all over the country. And honestly, I wouldn’t expect him to do so.
So while he refused to call Mayorkas a liar, he did reiterate that DHS does not have operational control of the border. Which is effectively the same thing if you ask me.
Good on Ortiz for being honest and willing to contradict his boss. I hope he keeps his job after this…