Former San Diego Sector Chief Border Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke testified before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, alleging that the Biden-Harris administration intentionally concealed the severity of the ongoing migrant crisis and the rise in terror-linked individuals crossing the U.S. southern border.

Heitke, who retired in the summer of 2023, accused the administration of trying to “quiet the border-wide crisis” through various measures, including the suppression of critical information and the redirection of illegal migrants.

During his testimony, Heitke revealed that while managing the San Diego sector, he was under constant pressure to release illegal aliens into local communities that were unprepared to support them. “I had to release illegal aliens by the hundreds each day into communities who could not support them,” Heitke stated, adding that administration officials devised a plan to move migrants to Texas to avoid media scrutiny.

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“To quiet the problem, two flights a week were provided from San Diego to Texas,” Heitke explained. “These flights simply brought aliens that would have been released in San Diego over to Texas.” Each flight reportedly cost $150,000, which Heitke described as the administration’s way of downplaying the border crisis. “This was the administration’s way of trying to quiet the border-wide crisis,” he emphasized.

The most alarming aspect of Heitke’s testimony centered around what he described as a significant rise in the number of “Special Interest Aliens” (SIAs) — individuals suspected of posing national security threats due to their country of origin or terror group affiliations.

Before the Biden administration took office, Heitke noted that the San Diego sector typically apprehended 10 to 15 SIAs per year. However, this number skyrocketed to over 100 in 2022 and continued to grow in subsequent years.

“These are only the ones we caught,” Heitke testified, adding that more than 1.7 million “gotaways” have crossed the border undetected, with their terror affiliations or risks remaining unknown.

Heitke claimed that he was barred from discussing these increases in SIA arrests. “At the time, I was told I could not release any information on this increase in SIAs or mention any of the arrests. The administration was trying to convince the public there was no threat at the border,” Heitke said.

The former chief also revealed that he was directed to move over 2,000 migrants apprehended between the two U.S.-Mexico border fences out of sight of the media.

This was part of an ongoing effort to limit public awareness of the border situation. “The administration was trying to hide the magnitude of the problem,” Heitke added.

HOLY SH!T

Former Chief BP Agent Aaron Heitke was ordered by Biden-Harris to cover up the disaster at the border:

1. Data hidden on terror encounters
2. $150k flights to fly illegals to TX
3. 0 resources to track fentanyl pic.twitter.com/kxUtEBpxGR

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 19, 2024

Heitke’s testimony echoed similar allegations made by former Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, who had previously testified that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other administration officials had “intentionally” undermined border security.

In a transcribed interview earlier this year, Scott accused Mayorkas and his political appointees of instructing border agents to “just don’t do your job.”

Scott, like Heitke, claimed that the administration’s approach to border security was in stark contrast to the policies of previous administrations, including those of former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama. “I assert that Secretary Mayorkas and his subordinate political appointees have and continue to intentionally conspire to undermine the security of the American people, as well as the letter and the intent of congressionally enacted U.S. law,” Scott stated in his testimony.

Adding to the concerns, Heitke noted that despite the surge in illegal crossings, no substantial resources were dedicated to tracking fentanyl, a drug that has been linked to a national crisis in the U.S.

He claimed that funds were instead diverted to cover the costs of transporting illegal immigrants across states.

The issue of terrorists entering the U.S. through the southern border has become a growing concern, with hundreds of individuals on the FBI’s watch list reportedly crossing into the country.

According to Heitke, the administration’s lack of transparency regarding these threats has left Americans vulnerable. “There is a significant threat out there that we don’t know,” he warned in an interview with “Fox & Friends First” prior to his testimony.

Heitke’s statements come amidst ongoing investigations by Georgia lawmakers into the conduct of the Biden-Harris administration regarding border security.

The revelations have sparked further debate over the administration’s handling of the migrant crisis, with many Republicans calling for increased oversight and stricter enforcement of border laws.

As the border crisis continues to escalate, the testimony of former Border Patrol leaders like Heitke and Scott highlights the growing divide over how the U.S. should address immigration and national security concerns.

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