DHS does not have operational control of the U.S. border, says Border Patrol chief 

The head of the U.S. Border Patrol said on Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not have “operational control” of the U.S.-Mexico border.

During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in McAllen, Texas, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz was asked about DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ claim last year that the department had operational control of the border. 

"Does DHS have operational control of our entire border?" Rep. Mark Green, a Republican from Tennessee, asked Ortiz as part of the hearing.

“No, sir,” Ortiz responded.

Green then played a video of Mayorkas telling Representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, that the DHS had control of the border. He then asked Ortiz if he thought Mayorkas was lying. 

"About ten years ago, we used operational control as a measuring stick of our effectiveness along the southwest border. My new strategy is geared towards mission advantage," Ortiz responded, without specifying whether he thought Mayorkas was lying.

Green referred to Mayorkas’ remarks, holding up a definition of operational control in the U.S. code that describes it as "the prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics and other contraband." 

"Based upon the definition you have sir, up there, no," responded Ortiz.

The hearing is being held "to examine the direct link between President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas’ reckless border policies and the unprecedented crisis at our Southwest border" after a record-breaking number of migrants were intercepted at the border. 

During his opening remarks, Ortiz addressed the challenges that his agents are facing in face of the unprecedented influx of migrants at the border. 

“The migration flow represents challenges, and in some areas, a crisis situation,” Ortiz said. “We had over 20,000 people show up in one place in a short period of time.”