The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives began a series of examining the Biden administration's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Wednesday's House Judiciary Committee hearing featured emotional testimony about border security and the fentanyl crisis, while railing against the policies of President Joe Biden and the leadership of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

What You Need To Know

  • The new Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives begins a series of hearings expected to take a critical look at President Joe Biden’s handling of the southern border

  • The first hearing, by the House Judiciary Committee, features emotional testimony about border security and the fentanyl crisis

  • Behind lawmakers was the image of a Texas teen, Noah Rodriguez, who died last year of a fentanyl overdose

  • The White House, Homeland Security officials and Democrats in Congress said only an overhaul of the immigration system would effectively deal with the crisis but that Republicans show no interest in striking an agreement on reforms

House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, slammed the Biden administration, listing figures about encounters with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Officials encountered roughly 2.3 million migrants at the border, per U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“These numbers make clear that the Biden administration does not have operational control of the border,” Jordan said. “Month after month after month, we have set records for migrants coming into the country and frankly, I think it’s intentional.”

Republican lawmakers are taking advantage of their new platform to argue their case about what they believe to be lax policies and mishandlings by the Biden administration. 

“When I look at public safety, national security and humanitarian on our southern border, this is the largest crime scene in this country,” Cochise County, Arizona, Sheriff Mark Dannels said at the hearing.

Democrats slammed the Republicans' approach to Wednesday's hearing.

This hearing is more of the same, haphazard chaotic style we have come to expect of this new Republican majority,” said New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, the panel's top Democrat, in his opening statement. “The first hearing will showcase the racist tendencies of the extreme MAGA Republican wing of the party."

Behind lawmakers was the image of a Texas teen, Noah Rodriguez, who died last year of a fentanyl overdose. Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy introduced Rodriguez's father to the committee.

“I'm delighted to have them here to express what they're going to share about the impact of open borders," Roy said. "Hardly a lie, hardly a figment of our imagination, a real impact on real human beings every single day."

“He was 15 years old. He was a sophomore at Johnson High School in Hays County. He was murdered by a drug dealer selling counterfeit Percocet pills,” said Brandon Dunn, the co-founder of the Forever 15 Project. 

Democrats on the panel put a spotlight on the border city of El Paso, Texas, which saw a surge of illegal crossings by migrants at the end of last year. Their witnesses, a county judge, downplayed talk of a crisis, saying the flow of migrants into his community was being effectively managed by local authorities.

“There is no open border in El Paso. immigrants seeking asylum largely present themselves to border patrol for processing. El Paso's required to abide by the same immigration laws that other border communities must follow. There is no invasion of migrants in our community, nor there are hordes of undocumented immigrants committing crimes against citizens or causing havoc in our community,” said Judge Ricardo Samaniego of El Paso County on Wednesday.

“When given the resources and support, they can be a great ally in ensuring that we preserve the humanity in our system that all of us should want," said Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar, who represents El Paso.

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability is planning its hearing about the border later this month, which is set to feature Border Patrol leadership.

The White House, Homeland Security officials and Democrats in Congress said an overhaul of the immigration system would effectively deal with the crisis, alleging that Republicans show no interest in striking an agreement on reforms.