The former head of Border Patrol criticizes the Biden administration for allegedly concealing information about migrants with suspected links to terrorism.

A former Border Patrol sector chief stated to lawmakers that he was hindered from disclosing information about migrants who could pose a threat to national security, as he claims the Biden administration aimed to minimize the danger.

According to former San Diego Sector Chief Patrol official Aaron Heitke, there was a sharp rise in Significant Interest Aliens (SIAs) in San Diego, who have links to terrorism.

"Before this administration, the San Diego sector had an average of 10-15 SIAs per year. However, after the news spread that the border was easier to cross, San Diego experienced a surge in SIAs, with over 100 in 2022, more than 100 in 2023, and even more this year. This is just the number of SIAs that we caught."

Heitke claims he was instructed not to disclose details about the rise.

"I was instructed not to disclose any information about the rise in Sias or mention any arrests at the time, as the administration aimed to reassure the public that there was no danger at the border," he stated.

The Department of Homeland Security was contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital for comment on Heitke's remarks.

The hearing "A Country Without Borders: How Biden-Harris’ Open-Borders Policies Have Undermined Our Safety and Security" featured remarks on the impact of the administration's immigration policies.

The Biden administration's policies and the reversal of Trump-era policies have contributed to the immigration crisis, which is a significant issue in the 2024 election, according to Republicans.

"Why have Biden and Harris failed to take action on this disaster, despite their resistance to doing anything meaningful?" Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., asked the committee.

Heitke informed the committee that he would release hundreds of illegal aliens daily and provide flights to transport migrants from San Diego to Texas, at a cost of approximately $150,000 per flight. He also testified that he had to shut down San Diego traffic checkpoints to redirect resources to the border, and that these checkpoints are essential for intercepting drugs like fentanyl.

The administration and Democrats have accused Republicans of not supporting funding and reform bills, including a bipartisan Senate bill released this year, and claim that recent actions by the administration are helping to reduce border encounters and safeguard the border.

Since the president's proclamation on June 4, border encounters have decreased by 55%, with Border Patrol recording the lowest number of border encounters since September 2020, according to ranking member Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who spoke at the hearing.