U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) joined a handful of his fellow GOP colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to convey their dissent over President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for Border Patrol agents.
In the letter, congressional Republicans suggested that the DHS head should consider alternatives to the edict for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
In announcing his cosigning of the letter, Moore asserted that the Biden administration should focus on border security efforts rather than enforcing “oppressive vaccine mandates.”
“It is unthinkable that the Biden administration would push out hundreds of Border Patrol agents during the middle of the border crisis it created,” declared Moore. “These agents are at the frontline of keeping our borders secure and communities safe, and to punish them with unconstitutional vaccine mandates a year after hailing them as heroes during the early days of the pandemic would be criminal. Secretary Mayorkas must do the right thing and prioritize a secure border over oppressive vaccine mandates.”
Under Biden’s vaccine decree, federal employees who opt against becoming inoculated against COVID-19 could face termination as early as November.
The process for hiring Border Patrol agents on average takes more than 400 days to complete, according to a release from Moore’s office. Upon being hired, agents are required to attend a 20-week training program at the Border Patrol Academy. Due to the methodical onboarding process for border enforcement personnel, some have indicated concern that the federal government may have difficulty filling potential vacancies in a timely manner.
Concern expressed in the letter from congressional Republicans over the border enforcement workforce comes as government data shows illegal border crossings have risen to record highs.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
