secretary of homeland security Alejandro Mayorkas He appeared to reject the legitimacy of any future impeachment proceedings against him by Republicans, but he accused Congress of failing to allocate substantial resources to his department.
Mr. Mayorkas came under fire Thursday on “Special Report” as anchor Bret Baier presented a variety of statistics that collectively painted a picture of the burgeoning crisis at the Mexican border.
Although he himself fled to the United States from the Cuban revolution when he was young, he maintains that he is carrying out his duties appropriately.
Baier asked Mayorkas how many illegal immigrants had been released into the interior of the country during President Biden's first three years in office, and the secretary said he needed to “correct misconceptions.”
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“Once someone enters the country, we subject them to immigration enforcement proceedings under immigration law, and if their claim for relief and claim to remain in the United States is successful, the law allows them to remain here…” he began. before Mr. Baier again asked for “approximate” statistics.
Mayorkas responded that “well over a million” immigrants are released each year, a statistic that proves the country's immigration system is broken and requires Congressional action. Ta.
When asked about 300,000 migrant encounters reported in December 2022 alone, Mayorkas said DHS capacity is limited by Congressional funding constraints. But the chief added that there had been a “historic number” of dismissals during his term.
Later, when asked about Customs and Border Protection officials telling Fox News that they release nearly three-quarters of the migrants who cross the border each day, Mayorkas said that, not surprisingly, those released are subject to enforcement action. He said he would be subject to processing and alternatives to detention.
In part, he said, “we are enforcing the laws that Congress passed.”
He added that Biden has asked Congress for additional funding to increase the number of CBP officers and new technology to no avail, and reiterated Congress' role in passing laws that his office enforces.
“…until the offending laws, which have not been amended in over 30 years, are amended,” he said.
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Mayorkas later made comments during Biden's 2020 debate calling for “all people seeking asylum to rush to the border immediately,” as well as videos of migrants professing “love” for Biden. , and whether the administration had created any legislation. Immigrant “magnets”.
“I'll tell you what I think is a magnet, but it's a function of our broken system,” Mayorkas responded, noting that years of wait times for immigration court dates are also “magnets.” Ta.[ic]”Power.
”[That] That's why I will work with Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate to provide solutions for the American people and provide long-overdue fixes to our immigration system that we all agree is broken. . ”
Mayorkas demurred when asked if he intended to resign from the Homeland Security Committee, which would begin proceedings if he is impeached by the House.
“I'm leading 260 [thousand] The incredibly dedicated and talented men and women of the Department of Homeland Security. I will continue to lead them and advance their mission to protect the American people…We do a lot for the American people, and I am very proud to do it.” replied the chief.
Mr. Baier noted that Mr. Mayorkas may be the first Cabinet member to be impeached in nearly 150 years, and the second overall. The last was then-Secretary of War William Belknap in March 1876.
