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(FreedomWire.org) – Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) completely destroyed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a hearing on Tuesday over the Biden administration’s ongoing crisis on the U.S. southern border.

Cruz didn’t go easy on Mayorkas after getting him to admit that the U.S. saw its lowest level of encounters on the southern border in 2020.

“Let’s look at CBP encounters … it drops to the lowest level. Then boom, what happens? You show up!” Cruz said. “And that red line is you! That red line is Joe Biden! And you’re claiming nothing happened, oh gosh, this was here before us. No! You made the decision to allow this!”

Cruz also got Mayorkas to admit that he had no idea how many migrants have died trying to get through the southern border in 2022.

“Of course you don’t! I know how many died, 853!” Cruz fired back. “You go back to 1998, you see it’s consistently between 300 to 400… Suddenly 2021. What happens? You get in office!”

Cruz later enraged Mayorkas after demanding that Mayorkas resign from his job over how poorly the Biden administration has handled the crisis.

“Mr. Secretary, I want to say to you right now, your behavior is disgraceful. And the deaths, the children assaulted, the children raped, they are at your feet,” Cruz said. “And if you had integrity, you would resign.”

“The men and women of the Border Patrol, they’ve never had a political leader undermine them,” Cruz continued. “They despise you, Mr. Secretary, because you’re willing to let children be raped to follow political orders. This is a crisis. It’s a disgrace. And you won’t even admit this human tragedy as it is crisis.”

Mayorkas responded by saying he would not “address” Cruz’s remarks because he found them to be “revolting.”

“Your refusal to do your job is revolting!” Cruz fired back.

Another highlight from the hearing showed Mayorkas repeatedly dodging Cruz’s question of whether there was a crisis at the southern border.

“1 word. 1 syllable. 3 letters,” Cruz said. “That’s how someone answers a question & does their job. You’re being a politician misleading the American people.”

(FreedomWire.org) – On Wednesday, the Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill that would allow state prosecutors to charge fentanyl distributors with murder, the Texas Tribune reported.

Senate Bill 645 by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, brings to life one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s key legislative priorities by allowing prosecutors to charge people who make, sell and deliver fentanyl with murder.

Huffman said: “We have tragically learned the extent of how dangerous fentanyl is and how even under 1 gram is so dangerous. It’s a fact that fentanyl is flooding our borders. It is absolutely, without a doubt killing our citizens on a daily basis. And it’s time that we take a comprehensive approach to combat this.

“So, to continue our efforts to keep this drug from hitting our communities, the committee substitute to Senate Bill 645 increases the penalty for manufacturing or delivery of less than 1 gram of fentanyl from a state jail felony to a third degree felony.

“Furthermore, if an individual dies from a fentanyl overdose, the penalty would be enhanced to a second degree.

“Members, we’ve reached a critical point in the fentanyl crisis here in Texas.

“We have no choice but to take a comprehensive approach to what is going on.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the bill’s passage saying:

“Here we go. You kill Texans with fentanyl. You get charged with murder.”

According to The Texas Tribune:

Huffman’s bill would also stiffen penalties for making, delivering or possessing larger quantities of fentanyl.

Having between 200 and 400 grams would be a first-degree felony, which could lead to between 10 years and life in prison as well as a fine of up to $100,000. Having more than 400 grams would also be a first-degree felony punishable by at least 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

But if approved by lawmakers, charging suspects with murder could still be a difficult outcome for law enforcement officials.

Some of the challenges include questions about how prosecutors could prove whether the person selling or distributing the drug knew that they were selling something that included fentanyl. And those who sell or distribute the drug aren’t usually the same people who manufacture the drugs.

“It may be that they find it’s easier to prosecute under the other statute that I passed that would make it a second-degree felony,” she said.

“But there may be extraordinary cases where it’s clear cut and the prosecutor then could have this tool to file for first-degree felony.”

Huffman made an exception in the law for medical professionals who prescribe fentanyl as treatment.