Staff Reports
House Republicans have kicked off what could be a wild investigation into the Biden administration’s flirtation with chaos at the U.S. border. Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee Chairman and a man who seems to be perpetually armed with a red pen for writing letters, has asked Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to preserve records related to their immigration policies. This request was sent flying through the congressional mail like a modern day letter to Santa, only this time, the wish list involves preventing a document dump at the hands of a beleaguered administration.
The request from Republican members signals an earnest desire to get to the bottom of what is being termed as the greatest border crisis since last season’s reality TV show finale. With a fervor that even the grumpiest of cats would admire, Jordan expressed his concerns about the possibility of the Department of Homeland Security “purging” documents. This isn’t just a casual concern that gets tossed around in the break room; this is a serious alert to ensure that the Democrats don’t “accidentally” shred their homework when things get tough.
Dear Biden officials:
Preserve your records.
More to come. pic.twitter.com/MjQBb4bra7
— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) November 14, 2024
In a gesture reminiscent of a college professor waving a syllabus at baffled students, Jordan instructed both Garland and Mayorkas to take all reasonable steps to retain the paperwork that reflects their handling—or lack thereof—of immigration laws. Forget the spring cleaning; this is about safeguarding records that could be pivotal to understanding just how the Biden administration has navigated the gaping hole that is the current border situation. This isn’t about just keeping the office tidy—this is about grabbing the proverbial bull by the horns and stabilizing the ongoing circus at the border.
Of course, the Biden administration is not taking this lying down. Administration spokespeople have emerged from the woodwork faster than a kid with a cookie jar. They assert that the Justice Department is committed to following the laws regarding record preservation, implying that Jordan’s concerns are as unfounded as a weather forecast for a snowstorm in July. In a remarkable effort to play it cool, the DOJ emphasized that it has every intention to comply with legal obligations. Surely, that’s comforting news for those facing the reality of record-keeping in an administration that seems more intent on rewriting the rules of engagement than on enforcing them.
And while Mayorkas remained unusually silent on Jordan’s alarming letter—probably enjoying a leisurely day away from the congressional spotlight—one can’t help but notice a trend. This administration has grown quite accustomed to operating behind the scenes, skipping out on congressional appearances, and apparently trying to dodge any hard questions, much like a game of political dodgeball. With a fresh wave of investigations by Republicans in Congress on the horizon, it seems like Mayorkas might want to buckle up, because the calls for accountability are only going to escalate as Trump prepares to take the reins again. It’s clear: the next few months could be quite the spectacle.
