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Washington • Rep. Rob Bishop and 19 fellow Republicans on Tuesday urged Democrats to hold a Natural Resources Committee hearing on immigration problems plaguing public lands along the U.S.-Mexico border.
In a letter to Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., the Republicans say the gravity of the issue should warrant the committee's time.
"Drug smuggling, murders, human trafficking and other illegal activities have become prevalent on America's public lands, including National Parks, National Forests, Wildlife Refuges, and other protected areas near our Southern border," the letter says, adding that it's the committee's duty to ensure public lands are safe.
Rahall's spokesman declined to comment on the letter.
Bishop, the ranking Republican on the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands subcommittee, has focused on concern that smugglers and cartels are now traversing public lands on the border now that other crossings are fenced off and patrolled.