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  HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEMAND INFO ON HOW DOJ USES TAXPAYER DOLLARS AS DEPARTMENT FUNDING BATTLE RAGES Republicans have called for more action, including military action against cartels in Mexico itself — which in turn brought a rebuke from Mexican  President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. 2024 presidential candidate Will Hurd announced a plan on Saturday to treat cartels and smugglers like terrorists. López Obrador has also targeted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in recent weeks for Texas’ move to establish a floating border barrier along with the Rio Grande to prevent migrants from making the dangerous journey across the river. That barrier is also facing a lawsuit from the Department of Justice.

  DEMOCRATS DEMAND BIDEN PROBE MIGRANT FAMILY SEPARATIONS AT BORDER Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is a favorite punching bag of conservative Republicans, who have accused him of failing to enforce U.S. Immigration laws. (Screenshot) The U.S. Has seen record migrant numbers at the border since 2021, and while those numbers dipped in June, they have started accelerating again in July — with much of the traffic of humans and drugs across the border controlled by the cartels. The Biden administration has taken several steps — including a collaborative law enforcement anti-smuggling campaign last year that led to thousands of arrests — to crack down on cartel smuggling . It has also made over 170 sanction designations of cartel leaders and members, often working with Mexico to do so. Last week, officials announced the sanctioning of three cartel members, including one nicknamed "The Anthrax Monkey."