McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — Republican U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz has invited Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to visit her South Texas border district to view an area she says has been “victimized” by lax border security under the Biden administration.

“With your confirmation, many of my constituents are now breathing a sigh of relief. These communities have been terrorized over the past four years by a constant flow of drug smuggling and human trafficking,” De La Cruz wrote in a March 13 letter to Noem.

“I would like to extend an invitation to South Texas where you can hear from the families, farmers and Border Patrol agents victimized by President Biden’s open-border policies,” De La Cruz wrote.

Since Donald Trump took office, encounters by Border Patrol of migrants illegally crossing into the Rio Grande Valley has dropped substantially.

Data released last week from February found Border Patrol agents came across just 1,285 people crossing in between legal ports of entry in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, down 89% from 11,951 encounters in February 2024, according to CBP data.

The most encounters in February were in the El Paso Sector of West Texas, with 2,110. But that was still a 91% drop from the previous February, CBP reports.

Noem visited near McAllen in July 2021 when she was then the governor of South Dakota. As governor she deployed National Guard troops to help Texas’ Operation Lone Star state-funded border security initiative.

Border Report has asked DHS if Noem is considering De La Cruz’ request or if she has accepted. This story will be updated if information is received.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.