GOP accuses Biden’s citizenship director of ‘dereliction of duty’

Congressional Republicans lashed out at a top Homeland Security official Wednesday for her inability to answer questions about what sort of illegal immigrants her agency has helped enter the country.

Ur Jaddou, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, couldn’t say what’s happened to migrants “paroled” into the country under Biden-era policies, wouldn’t talk about a massive fraud operation in visas being granted to Afghans, and stumbled when asked about the vicious Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.

Her performance left Republicans steaming.

“This is one of the saddest appearances by an agency head that I have observed,” said Rep. Tom McClintock, a California Republican with eight terms under his belt. He called her lack of answers a “dereliction of duty” and “a contempt of Congress.”

Ms. Jaddou oversees legal immigration to the U.S. and, under President Biden, has also taken on a key role in a “parole” program that has allowed more than half a million unauthorized migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to reach the U.S.

Her agency is responsible for vetting the so-called sponsors who are supposed to promise to financially support the parolees. That process has been swamped with fraud, according to Ms. Jaddou’s own staff.

USCIS approved criminals, gang members, welfare recipients and even other parolees to become sponsors. Sponsors were also using stolen identities to apply, with one even submitting former first lady Michelle Obama’s real passport number as part of an application.

In testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Ms. Jaddous said the fraud is “a problem” but suggested her agency has solved things.

“We have made changes throughout,” she said.

That was little comfort to Republicans.

“Do you think people have more trust in our immigration system now than when you all started four years ago?” Rep. Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey Republican, demanded.

Ms. Jaddou demurred: “I have not surveyed the American public.”

Wednesday’s hearing could be Ms. Jaddou’s last appearance on Capitol Hill. As a political appointee, she will leave when the new Trump administration enters next month.

Republicans ushered her out the door with glee.

“I want to almost thank you guys for the job you have done because you totally blew it. The American people are sick and tired of what they’ve seen,” said Rep. Troy Nehls, Texas Republican.

He had asked Ms. Jaddou about Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang that has used the Biden administration’s more relaxed immigration approach to infiltrate the U.S.

She declined to say more.

“I probably don’t want to discuss too much of that,” she said.

Mr. McClintock probed Ms. Jaddou over how many parolees her agency has since granted more permanent status. He said his office asked that question in writing in September and prodded Ms. Jaddou to be ready to answer it in anticipation of Wednesday’s hearing.

“I don’t have those numbers with me,” she said.

She did assure lawmakers her agency is working hard.

“USCIS has never been more efficient than it is today,” she said.

“Your appearance here today totally contradicts that conclusion,” Mr. McClintock said.