Border Crossings Are at an All-Time High. The Homeland Security Department Is Prioritizing ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.’
DHS puts DEI ahead of 'customer experience' and 'cybersecurity'
Joseph Simonson • November 22, 2021 5:00 amAs patrol agents are overwhelmed with an all-time high number of crossings at the southern border, the Department of Homeland Security is prioritizing "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) in the 2022 fiscal year, according to documents reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon.
In a November report that outlined initiatives for agencies such as Customs and Border Protection, DHS listed compliance with federal regulations as first among six "priorities." The second was "diversity, equity, and inclusion"—above "customer experience" and "cybersecurity." The department sent the report to staff members following a town hall-like meeting, during which agency heads emphasized to staff the importance of DEI efforts.
That ranking concerned at least one senior DHS official, who criticized leadership for focusing on left-wing political initiatives while the southern border "remains a shit show."
"DEI is the new buzzword at DHS, and it's a top focus at all component agencies," the official said. "Too many officials are spending resources to impress Biden administration officials and political appointees with new initiatives and programs."
As DHS rolls out these priorities, Border Patrol agents are processing an all-time high number of migrants attempting to enter the country. Fentanyl seizures by immigration authorities have also spiked over the last year, contributing to the more than 100,000 American deaths due to opioid overdoses in the last year. On top of that, DHS is facing a potential staffing crisis amid vaccine mandates for federal employees.
Despite those crises, President Joe Biden has advanced DEI programming. In June, he signed an executive order establishing "a government-wide initiative to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all parts of the federal workforce" that "expands [DEI] training throughout" the government.
A recording of a private question-and-answer session with DHS leadership this month, which was obtained by the Free Beacon, highlights how DEI initiatives are central to day-to-day work by the agency. When asked by an anonymous staff member about supply chain issues, for example, DHS chief information officer Eric Hysen—who worked as the director of the Justice and Opportunity Initiative at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and on the Biden transition team—spoke about his concern for "minority businesses" when working with tech contractors.
"One of the things that has been critical for me and [our chief procurement officer] as we think about these elements," Hysen said, "is that we don't want to impose supply chain requirements that limit our ability to move quickly, to move at the speed of mission, but also that don't impact our ability to access and work with small and minority owned businesses, which are a critical part of our vendor base."
DHS did not respond to a request for comment.
Much of the changing culture at DHS can be traced to an agency report entitled "DHS Inclusive Diversity Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2024," which was released on Dec. 31, 2020. According to the document, the initiative seeks to "demonstrate our commitment to inclusive diversity as a top priority."
"In 2020, we find ourselves at the brink of change that is not only expected, but required—of the times we are in, and by the future that we are beholden to," Sharon Wong, DHS executive director of Strategic Recruitment, Diversity, & Inclusion, writes in the report (emphasis in original). "As we prepare to welcome Generation Z into the workforce, we must begin to think of harnessing our mission and values to create a workforce for whom belonging is our priority; so that we may benefit from their talent and tenacity, and be elevated by their high expectations of the American government, and uncompromising standards that will stretch us to the fullest expression of public service."
The report notes that reorienting the agency around DEI initiatives began at the end of the Trump administration. The proliferation of DEI programming has only accelerated since Biden entered office, according to the senior DHS official.
The focus on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the official said, has demoralized many within the agency. When senior DHS officials held town hall meetings with staff in November, for example, they declined answering questions related to the treatment of Border Patrol agents erroneously accused of "whipping" Haitian migrants.
Biden's vaccine mandate for federal employees, as well as looming budget cuts for border security, has many within DHS and CBP considering retirement or changing jobs altogether. The obsession with DEI, some say, feels like an insult.
"It's like this all over the administration," the senior DHS official said with regards to DEI programming. "Why are they thanking us for our service when they want to give us less money and promote debunked stories about how Border Patrol agents abuse migrants?"
LAWLESS JOE BIDEN'S ASSAULT ON AMERICA'S BORDERS
TX AG on migrant caravan nearing border: 'We aren't able to keep track of them'
Poll: Over 6-in-10 Americans Oppose Biden’s $450K for Border Crossers
A wide majority of Americans oppose a plan circulated by President Joe Biden’s administration to provide payouts of $450,000 to each border crosser subjected to former President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy, a new poll reveals.
Biden’s Departments of Justice (DOJ), Homeland Security (DHS), and Health and Human Services (HHS) are working to settle with a number of border crossers represented by the ACLU, who claim they have suffered trauma as a result of the zero tolerance policy.
As part of the settlement, attorneys with the DOJ, DHS, and HHS are considering a plan that would give each border crosser about $450,000 and family units about $1 million. The total cost of the payouts would reach $1 billion.
A CBS News/YouGov poll finds that 63 percent of American adults are opposed to providing $450,000 to border crossers — including nearly 4-in-10 Biden supporters, 64 percent of swing voters, and 92 percent of Republicans.
Meanwhile, just 37 percent of American adults said they support the payouts to border crossers. Democrats tend to support the payouts by a nearly 70 percent majority, while close to 4-in-10 said they oppose the payouts.
The nation’s white working class, a vital demographic with millions who remain unregistered to vote, said by a 74 percent majority that they oppose the payouts, while 67 percent of college-educated white Americans said the same.
As Breitbart News has noted, the $450,000 payouts to border crossers would far exceed the compensation provided to the victims of the September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorist attacks and of the Boston Marathon bombings.
The poll also showed that most Americans, about 57 percent, said Biden and the Democrats are “not tough enough” when it comes to national immigration policy. More than 6-in-10 swing voters said the same as well as 53 percent of Hispanic Americans.
When Americans were asked about border crossers’ motives for illegally trying to cross the United States-Mexico border, 53 percent said “most” believe that the Biden administration will apprehend them and then release them into the U.S. interior.
Current estimates based on DHS data reveal that anywhere from 530,000 to 600,000 illegal aliens have been released into the U.S. interior by the Biden administration from January to September.
While Americans are increasingly opposed to Biden’s mass immigration policies, his administration and elected Democrats are seeking to pass the largest amnesty for illegal aliens in American history that would allow millions to secure work permits and driver’s licenses while expanding legal immigration levels.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter here.
Multinational-Operation Leads to Arrests of Venezuelan, Brazilian Migrants near California Border
San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents and Mexican officials teamed up to disrupt a transnational smuggling operation. The investigation led to the arrest of smugglers and migrants on both sides of the California-Mexico border.
Between October 28 and November 9, Border Patrol agents apprehended five groups of migrants who illegally crossed the border from Mexico. The groups consisted mostly of migrants from Brazil and Venezuela, according to information obtained from San Diego Sector Border Patrol officials. The five groups ranged in size from 43 migrants to 93 migrants.
During the preceding week, agents interdicted three more smuggling operations leading to the apprehension of 67, 69, and 72 migrants respectively. Nearly all of the groups consisted of citizens of Venezuela and Brazil, officials stated.
Officials reported:
etween Oct. 28 and Nov. 9, agents encountered five groups, mostly from Brazil and Venezuela. The groups all entered the United States illegally and consisted of men, women, and children and were 43, 49, 73, 84 and 93 people in size.
On Oct. 27, agents observed a box truck dropping off a group of individuals on the southside of the international border fence. The group proceeded to enter the United States through a compromised drainage tube. Agents responded to the area and encountered 67 men, women, and children from both Brazil and Venezuela.
On Oct. 26, agents encountered two groups of migrants that illegally entered the United States through a compromised sewer grate. The first group consisted of 86 Brazilian nationals. A few hours later, the second group, consisting of 69 Brazilian nationals, was encountered at the same location. Both groups consisted of men, women, and children.
On Oct. 23, agents observed a group of migrants illegally enter the United States through a drainage tube three miles west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Agents responded to the area and encountered 72 men, women, and children. Every person in the group was determined to be from either Brazil or Venezuela.
Beginning on November 4, Border Patrol officials with the San Diego Sector Foreign Operations Branch worked with the government of Mexico to investigate the transnational human smuggling operation. The investigation led to the arrest of two Mexican smugglers and the rescue of 75 migrants from Brazil, Portugal, and Venezuela who were all locked inside a box truck in Mexico.
“Partnerships with the government of Mexico continue to play a vital role in combating smugglers who exploit individuals for monetary gain,” said Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke. “We thank them for their support and will continue our joint effort to bring these criminals to justice.”
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday-morning talk show. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX, Parler @BobPrice, and Facebook.
Illegal Alien Allegedly Murdered Wife in Front of Children, Fleeing to Mexico
An illegal alien is in custody in Canyon County, Idaho, after he allegedly murdered his wife years ago in front of their children before fleeing to Mexico.
Erasmo Diaz, an illegal alien from Mexico, was extradited to Canyon County after he allegedly fled back to Mexico following the death of his wife, Amparo Godinez-Sanchez, in 2015.
According to police, Diaz shot and killed Sanchez in front of two of their three children in Wilder, Idaho. Sometime after the alleged murder, Diaz fled to Mexico, police said.
The following year, Diaz was indicted for second-degree murder, desertion of a child, injury to children, use of a firearm or deadly weapon during the commission of a crime, and destruction, altercation, or concealment of evidence.
In June, Diaz was arrested by Mexican authorities and was extradited last week to Canyon County to face the murder charge and other charges against him.
“This is a day we’ve been looking forward to,” Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue said during a press conference last week.
In 2008, Diaz was arrested by police for abusing Sanchez and was charged with aggravated battery. He pleaded guilty in that case and was sentenced to jail time.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a detainer on Diaz so that if he is released from local custody at any time, he will be turned over to them for arrest and deportation.
Diaz is expected to appear in court on December 1. He is being held on a $5 million bond.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter here.
EXCLUSIVE: Border Patrol Migrant Got-Away Count Reaches 75K in 47 Days
A law enforcement source within Customs and Border Protection revealed the number of migrants escaping apprehension reached 75,000 in Fiscal Year 2022, which began in October. The source says between 1,800 and 2,000 migrants are managing to elude apprehension daily along the southwest border.
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the issue. In a tense exchange, Mayorkas failed to provide the number.
Sen. Cruz: Now, you told another Senator, you don’t know how many ‘got-aways’ there have been?
Sec. Mayorkas: I will have to circle back, Senator, with that information.”
Cruz: So, that wasn’t a fact that you thought was relevant to this hearing?
Mayorkas: Oh, it is absolutely relevant. I understand why the question is posed. It’s a fact of great—
Cruz: But you’re not prepared to answer it. How about this — how many deaths? How many illegal aliens have died crossing illegally into the United States under Joe Biden’s Administration?
Mayorkas: I don’t have that data.
The known got-away count is updated daily by the Border Patrol, according to the source. The data is entered into a system of record easily accessible to agency leaders.
At the current pace, the source says the migrant got-away count this year is likely to exceed the more than 400,000 as reported in Fiscal Year 2021.
The metric is usually not released by DHS. It is achieved by counting migrants who ultimately escape apprehension after being observed by aircraft and camera systems. Agents also use traditional sign-cutting techniques to identify footprints.
Sources report the got-away count is usually lower than reality. Another issue impacting the accuracy of the got-away count, according to the source, is the number of Border Patrol agents relegated to processing, transport and humanitarian care for the thousands of migrants apprehended daily.
Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Division Chief for Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol Stations within the Del Rio, Texas, Sector. Follow him on Twitter @RandyClarkBBTX.
77 Migrants Found in Texas Stash Houses near Border
Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended 77 migrants in human smuggling stash-house raids. The agents found migrants packed in three separate houses just north of the Rio Grande.
Agents conducted a vehicle stop on November 17 near Alamo, Texas. During an interview with the occupants of a gray Chevrolet Silverado, the agents determined all were illegally present in the United States.
Further investigation revealed the migrants had been held in a nearby human stash house. The agents contacted the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office for assistance and conducted an inspection of the property.
Agents found six migrants still being held, officials stated. The agents identified the migrants as citizens of Honduras and Mexico.
A few hours later, Rio Grande Valley Sector agents received information about another human smuggling stash house near Weslaco, The agents teamed up with local sheriff’s deputies and investigated the residence.
Once inside, the agents found seven migrants from Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, the report continues.
Officials transported all of the migrants to local processing facilities.
On November 13, agents teamed up with Starr County Sheriff’s Office deputies to search a stash house in Roma. The search led to the apprehension of 11 Central American migrants.
McAllen Station agents received a call for help from a migrant who reported being held in a stash house in McAllen, Texas. The agents went to the suspected stash house with McAllen Police Department officers and observed a vehicle dropping off a group of people.
The agents conducted an investigation of the house and found 53 migrants packed inside. The agents identified the migrants as citizens of Central American nations. Two females required medical attention and had to be transported to a local hospital.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior news contributor for the Breitbart Texas-Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Price is a regular panelist on Fox 26 Houston’s What’s Your Point? Sunday-morning talk show. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX, Parler @BobPrice, and Facebook.
Texas, Virginia, California Among Top Destinations for Afghans Brought to U.S. by Biden
Texas, Virginia, and California are among the top destinations for tens of thousands of Afghans brought to the United States as part of President Joe Biden’s massive resettlement operation out of Afghanistan.
Since mid-August, Biden has brought more than 73,000 Afghans to the U.S. and wants to bring several thousand more by the middle of next year. Afghans, arriving exclusively in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Dulles, Virginia, are being temporarily housed at U.S. military bases.
Among those bases is the Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico where about 4,300 Afghans continue living before they are resettled. A report from the Washington Post reveals that Texas, Virginia, and California — states with predominant Afghan populations — are the highest in-demand destinations for Afghans arriving.
So many Afghans want to go to Texas, Virginia, and California that Biden’s officials are trying to persuade them to instead resettle in cities like Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Last week, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the Biden administration is resettling about 4,000 Afghans every week across the U.S. The latest figures show that the Biden administration has resettled more than 25,000 Afghans thus far.
In addition, Mayorkas admitted that “not all” Afghans arriving in the U.S. have been interviewed in-person by federal officials — a standard protocol of refugee vetting that the 9/11 Commission intensely recommended following the September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorist attacks.
“We are not conducting in-person, refugee interviews of 100 percent individuals,” Mayorkas revealed.
The Biden administration is so rapidly resettling Afghans across the U.S. at an unprecedented volume that the temporary housing at Fort Lee in Virginia has closed. About 45,000 Afghans remain at bases in New Mexico, Wisconsin, Indiana, New Jersey, and Virginia.
Over the last 20 years, nearly one million refugees have been resettled in the country. This is a number more than double that of residents living in Miami, Florida, and would be the equivalent of annually adding the population of Pensacola, Florida, to the country.
Refugee resettlement costs American taxpayers nearly $9 billion every five years, according to research, and each refugee costs taxpayers about $133,000 over the course of their lifetime. Within five years, an estimated 16 percent of all refugees admitted will need housing assistance paid for by taxpayers.
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter here.
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