Waco Reporter

Congressman Pete Sessions, along with 22 fellow House Republicans, has sent a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting an updated version of a 2018 report on criminal alien statistics. This request comes in light of the escalating issues related to illegal immigration, rising violent crime, and drug overdose deaths across the United States since January 2021.

The original 2018 report, titled "Criminal Alien Statistics: Information on Incarcerations, Arrests, Convictions, Costs, and Removals," provided comprehensive data on the number and nationalities of noncitizens in United States penitentiaries. It included information on arrests, convictions, types of offenses, and the estimated costs of incarcerating each noncitizen. It also detailed the removal process for noncitizens following their federal prison terms.

Congressman Sessions and his colleagues are seeking an updated report to equip Congress and the public with crucial information about the current state of illegal immigration, its financial impact on taxpayers, and strategies for reducing the number of noncitizens in U.S.-based penitentiaries.

In a statement, Congressman Sessions emphasized the need for data to fully understand the effects of President Biden's open border policy on rising crime rates. He said, "The crisis on our southern border is reverberating into cities and towns across the United States. Violent crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking are now a daily reality in communities where such illicit activity was once rare. This update to the 2018 Government Accountability Office report will provide this necessary information."

Jonathan Thompson, CEO of the National Sheriffs Association, praised Congressman Sessions' leadership on the issue. He stated, "Pete Sessions’ leadership, on this GAO study, regarding illegal migration, rising crime rates, and incarceration is an important part of fixing our broken border using statistics and facts. We need to see the real costs associated with the Administration's open border policies."

Joining Congressman Sessions in this call for an updated report are Congresspersons Granger (TX-12), McCaul (TX-10), Rogers (AL-03), Biggs (AZ-05), Roy (TX-21), Crenshaw (TX-02), Ellzey (TX-06), Self (TX-03), Fallon (TX-04), Nehls (TX-22), Lamborn (CO-05), Higgins (LA-03), Tiffany (WI-07), Weber (TX-14), De La Cruz (TX-15), Gooden (TX-05), Ogles (TN-05), Brecheen (OK-02), Williams (TX-25), Cloud (TX-27), Rouzer (NC-07), and Moran (TX-01).

This urgent request for an updated report reflects the need for accurate and up-to-date information on the impact of illegal immigration and rising crime rates in the United States. It is a crucial step towards understanding the consequences of current border policies and working towards effective solutions.

Click this link to access more information: https://sessions.house.gov/2023/12/congressman-sessions-leads-call-for-urgent-gao-update-on-surging-illegal-immigration-crime-statistics