Border Patrol Chief To Joyce: PA National Guard Would “Certainly” Help Secure Southern Border

The House Homeland Security Committee, on which Congressman John Joyce (PA-13) serves, held a hearing today regarding the use of National Guard troops at the southern border. During the hearing, United States Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost testified to Joyce that the Pennsylvania National Guard would "certainly" help law enforcement better secure the southern border.

Chief Provost's testimony comes just weeks after Joyce and four of his Pennsylvania colleagues in the House wrote to Governor Tom Wolf asking that he deploy as many of Pennsylvania's National Guard Troops to the southern border as possible. The Governor denied the request, calling it a "stunt" and referred to the crisis at the southern border as "hyperbole." In response to whether she thought Wolf's assessment of the crisis at the southern border is accurate, Provost said that she "would disagree whole heartedly" with the Governor.

Joyce this week also wrote an op-ed in PennLive again calling for Pennsylvania to send its National Guard to assist at the southern border in order to match the commitment that Mexico has displayed on the issue.

A video and of Joyce's exchange with Provost can be found HERE and a transcript can be found below.

TRANSCRIPT

CONGRESSMAN JOYCE: There is an unprecedented crisis that we as a nation face on our Southern Border. Over 144,000 migrants attempted to illegally enter between ports of entry along the southwest border in May of 2019, a 622 percent increase over the same month just two years ago. In the face of inaction by Congress on this matter President Trump has had to declare a State of Emergency and direct the Secretary of Defense to deploy National Guard troops to the border to help CBP deal with this incredible crisis.

It is necessary to point out that the reason for a National Guard presence at the border, as I learned from talking to Border Patrol agents in Arizona just a month ago, is that we currently are overwhelmed at Border Patrol. And we are overwhelmed because my colleagues across the aisle refuse to take up the necessary legislation to fix the loopholes in our asylum system, and because of the refusal to allocate the $4.5 billion in emergency aid that the Department of Homeland Security has asked for in order to feed and shelter the families and unaccompanied children. In fact, they've blocked legislation that would do so 15 times in the last month alone.

The unwillingness of Congress to solve this problem prompted me and four members, colleagues from the Pennsylvania delegation to ask our Governor to send Pennsylvania National Guard to the southern border. Unfortunately, the Governor called this a "stunt" and he called the crisis on our southern border "hyperbole". So today I intend to find out from you, our experts, whether the Governor's assessment of the situation is correct, or whether more National Guard troops are needed and could be effective at the border. Chief Provost, I understand multiple states have sent National Guard troops and assets to assist with the Operation Guardian Support mission. Today's statements indicate that there are currently 546 soldiers and airmen deployed out of necessary 764 that are authorized in positions. If the state of Pennsylvania tomorrow offered you additional National Guard forces would you be able to make use from them and would you be able to better secure and protect our southern border?

CHIEF PROVOST: Thank you sir. Certainly, as I stated in my opening statement the Guard and DoD have been invaluable, particularly as my resources have been diverted away. 40 to 60 percent of my resources have been diverted, concerns me about border security. We are dealing with a humanitarian crisis but that is negatively impacting our ability to secure the border and border security is national security.

CONGRESSMAN JOYCE: Additionally, Chief Provost, do you think describing the current situation at our southern border as a "hyperbole," do you feel that is correct?

PROVOST: I would disagree whole heartedly with that. This crisis, as I said before, is like nothing I have seen in my 25 years. It truly is a crisis, I have been saying that since at least February to Congress when I testified back then. We need your support, we need the funding as well that you mentioned to support throughout DHS, not just for border patrol because when my partners don't have the funding that they need it negatively impacts my operations as well. Because I am the only one, the border patrol is the only one who can't say no. these folks are coming in, they end up in our custody, in our care and we can't say no. So I need funding for my other partners along the way, ICE, HHS, to be able to do their portion of this. All the way through DOJ.

CONGRESSMAN JOYCE: Thank you Chief Provost. Thank you for addressing the crisis that you and your team face. Madam Chairwoman, I yield

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Joyce has called on Congress numerous times to approve the $4.5 million in emergency funding requested by DHS to address the security and humanitarian crisis at the border. Earlier this week, the 13^th District lawmaker said that any additional appropriations packages should not be brought up for a vote in the House without prioritizing those emergency dollars.

Joyce is also a cosponsor of the Fix the Immigration Loopholes Act, which:

• Fixes the Flores settlement to allow children and parents to be sheltered together in custody
• Keeps children safe by prohibiting DHS from releasing a child into the custody of any person besides a parent or legal guardian
• Ensures unaccompanied alien children can be quickly and safely returned home
• Strengthens the asylum system by tightening the ?credible fear' standard

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