GOP lawmaker calls on Mayorkas to maintain border crisis records for Trump administration: "Undo the harm caused"

A Republican congressman is calling for DHS Secretary Mayorkas to keep all records related to the border crisis that occurred in the past four years.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, urging him to preserve all information related to the border crisis and the mass influx of aliens into the interior. According to Roy, during Mayorkas' tenure, there have been recordbreaking illegal alien encounters at the borders, millions of aliens released into the interior, and scores of criminals and other bad actors infiltrating communities, endangering both Americans and aliens. Roy emphasized that it is crucial for DHS to preserve this information so that the incoming Trump administration can undo the damage done and fulfill its mandate to address the crisis.

DHS officials have repeatedly given briefings, responses, and hearing appearances in response to Republicans' complaints about the agency's lack of responsiveness to information requests, which the Republicans deny.

Roy states that his office and others have received "at best – delayed and insufficient responses or – at worst – no response from your office at all." As a result, he requests that all reasonable steps be taken to prevent the destruction of all documents, communications, and other information, including electronic information, that are or may be responsive to this congressional inquiry, including memoranda, numerical data, reports, letters, and subpoenas received by Congress surrounding border security and immigration policies of the Biden-Harris Administration from January 20, 2021, to the present.

The Biden administration has recently taken hawkish measures at the border, including a presidential proclamation in June that limited asylum. However, the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress are planning to make significant changes to how immigration and border security are managed.

The ongoing border crisis, which began in early 2021 and persisted until 2024, has been a major point of contention for Republicans, with Roy playing a significant role in the impeachment of Mayorkas in 2021, although the impeachment was not taken up by the Senate.

The Biden administration's handling of the crisis at the border will continue to be a topic of interest, even as the Trump administration brings in new changes.

DHS is requested by Roy to preserve information such as the number of migrants released with court dates, their countries of origin, last known whereabouts, and similar details for those released into the U.S. under humanitarian parole and those allowed to stay under programs like Temporary Protected Status.

The CBP One app, which enables migrants to schedule appointments for parole into the U.S., is the subject of inquiry. Additionally, information is sought on those who cannot be reached, those released with criminal charges or convictions, those associated with gangs, and those granted Temporary Protected Status.

Roy requested information on the number of visa overstays, suspected fraud cases among those admitted with visas, and the number of countries that are not cooperating with the return of illegal immigrants. He also wanted to know the number of Chinese nationals released into the U.S. with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, the names of organizations that have received DHS grants for caring for migrants, and the number of worksite enforcement investigations conducted by ICE.

In 2025, immigration is predicted to remain a significant issue for both Congress and the administration, following its prominence in political discussions in 2024. President-elect Trump has appointed Thomas Homan as his border czar and nominated Kristi Noem to replace Mayorkas at DHS. Republicans are expected to push for more legislation to aid in border control, possibly reviving HR 2, a Republican border bill that passed in the House in 2023 but has not been considered by the Senate.