Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are bailing on a congressional trip to the southern border, claiming Republicans failed to inform them about it even though GOP lawmakers publicly announced the trips weeks ago, Breitbart reported.
"Despite the importance of this issue, there was no consultation with Judiciary Democrats, many of whom have already committed to attending other bipartisan congressional delegation trips," Democrat Jerry Nadler (N.Y.), who serves as ranking member on the committee, said in a statement.
Chairman Jim Jordan (R., Ohio.), however, first told members about the trip, which is scheduled for Feb. 22-24, more than two weeks ago during the committee's first hearing of the new Congress.
In fact, here's @Jim_Jordan inviting them to join during our first hearing! pic.twitter.com/rjLGD8mzCK
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) February 16, 2023
A senior GOP aide told Breitbart that members on both sides have been in talks about the trip for weeks.
"All of the Democrats were invited to come, but apparently not one could find time to attend an official congressional hearing," the aide said. "Democrats have asked if it was acceptable for them to send a staffer on the trip. How did the Democrat staffer find out about the trip if they weren’t consulted?"
Nadler said Democrats on the Judiciary Committee will take a trip to the border in March instead, even though other House Democrats are visiting the border on Friday.
The Democrats are bailing on the trip just as the Biden administration is pulling resources away from the southern border, which has seen record-high illegal immigration in recent months. Last month, 8 of 12 surveillance balloons used by border agents were pulled out of duty after the Biden administration failed to adequately fund the project. Border agents said it hinders their ability to locate illegal migrant entries.
More than 1.2 million illegal migrants have evaded law enforcement while entering the country since Biden took office.
More migrants were processed along the southern border in December than ever before—251,487 in total. And in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, agents reported a 743 percent increase in migrant encounters between October and December compared with the same months in 2021.