U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz announced that he will retire at the end of this month, after more than three decades with the agency.
In an email to rank-and-file Border Patrol agents Tuesday, Ortiz said, “After a 32-year career spanning multiple Sectors, HQ tours, and overseas assignments in Afghanistan, I have decided to retire from Federal Service on June 30. I have proudly served in the Armed Forces and across this country and enjoyed every opportunity I have had to work for and on behalf of the American people.”
“I leave at ease, knowing we have a tremendous uniformed and professional workforce, strong relationships with our union partners, and outstanding leaders who will continue to tirelessly advocate for you each day,” Ortiz continued.
Ortiz’s retirement comes amid ongoing controversy over the Biden Administration’s lack of control over the crisis at the Southern border and concerns about U.S. cities’ ability to accommodate the massive influx of migrants entering the United States illegally.
Joe Biden reversed most of President Trump’s border policies on his first day as “President”, which encouraged millions of migrants to enter the United States illegally.
Earlier this year, Ortiz provided testimony to Congress stating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lacks operational control over the U.S. southern border.
Ortiz’s testimony directly contradicts statements made by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has repeatedly asserted, including under oath before Congress, that the Southern border is secure and is “not open.”
From Daily Wire:
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz will retire from his career as a federal officer after serving in the U.S. government for three decades.
Ortiz made the official announcement in an email sent to staff on Tuesday.
The announcement comes after years of the unrelenting border crisis that President Joe Biden unleashed on the U.S. southern border with a reversal of Trump-era policies that encouraged millions of migrants to enter the U.S. illegally.
Ortiz testified to Congress earlier this year that the Department of Homeland Security does not have operational control of the U.S. southern border under Biden, a claim that is directly at odds with a statement from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Ortiz made the remarks during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in McAllen, Texas, in response to a question from Chairman Mark Green about security on the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Does DHS have operational control of our entire border?” Green asked.
“No, sir,” Ortiz responded.
Behind Green was a poster board that showed that “operational control,” as defined by U.S. law, is “the prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics and other contraband.”
Green then played a video during the hearing showing Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) questioning Mayorkas last year over whether the U.S. had operational control of the southern border. “Yes, we do,” Mayorkas claimed. “Yes, we do.”
Green then asked Ortiz whether he thought Mayorkas was lying, to which Ortiz responded that operational control used to be how officials measured whether or not they were being successful. He said that their new strategy was “geared towards mission advantage.”
Ortiz again confirmed that DHS does not have operational control of the southern border, but, when pressed over whether Mayorkas was lying, Ortiz politely tried to sidestep the question in an apparent effort to not say anything negative about his boss.
