Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited Eagle Pass, Texas, on Monday to discuss the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
Mayorkas acknowledged in a press conference that the unprecedented level of illegal immigration is “putting tremendous stress on our broken immigration system.” [and] Our facility is under-resourced. ”
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 8, 2024. (John Moore/Getty Images)
“Our immigration system is outdated, broken, and has needed reform for literally decades,” Mayorkas said.
He called on Congress to provide additional funding for more police officers and judges who can quickly resolve asylum cases. Mayorkas also blamed December's historic spike on underfunding of Mexico's Immigration Enforcement Agency.
Mayorkas tells Border Patrol agents there are 'more than 85%' of illegal immigrants released into US: Source
The comments came days before an impeachment hearing for the DHS secretary over his response to the southern border. Hundreds of thousands of migrants have entered the United States under his watch, with more than 276,000 migrants entering the United States near the end of December, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official told Fox News Digital last month. and set a new record for crossing the United States. Month.
The Texas National Guard stands guard as hundreds of migrants attempt to reach the U.S. border seeking humanitarian asylum in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, January 2, 2024. (David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The previous record was in September, when authorities saw 269,735 cases. This number includes illegal immigrants encountered between ports of entry and immigrants who entered ports of entry via the CBP One app.
If impeached, Mayorkas would become the first Cabinet secretary to receive a black mark since 1876.
In Eagle Pass, Mayorkas pushed the idea that DHS is not doing border security.
Senate not scheduled to release text on border security package this week
“Some people have accused DHS of not enforcing our nation's laws. This could not be further from the truth,” Mayorkas said. “There is nothing I take more seriously than our responsibility to comply with the law, and the men and women of DHS are working around the clock to achieve that goal.”
He noted that by the end of the fiscal year, “DHS had expelled or returned more noncitizens who had no basis for remaining in the United States than in any other five-month period in the past 10 years.”
“The fact is, the vast majority of immigrants encountered at the Southwest border through this administration have been removed, deported or deported,” he said.
File: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas holds a press conference at the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 8, 2024. (John Moore/Getty Images)
The comment appears to be at odds with what he said in a private meeting with officials in Eagle Pass, where he said the current release rate for illegal immigrants apprehended at the southern border is “in excess of 85%.” he admitted to a Border Patrol agent.
As officials continue to be overwhelmed at the U.S. border, court dates for many asylum cases are set years in the future, in some cases as late as 2031.
Senate negotiators met Monday morning to speed up legislative text for a bipartisan border security proposal aimed at reducing the number of migrants visiting the southern border to apply for asylum protection in the United States. finished.
A small group of senators had been working on the bill for months, but disagreements remained after Republicans pushed for a combination of border policy changes and additional funding for Ukraine.
The Biden administration is also directly involved in the negotiations as the president seeks to secure support for funding Ukraine's defense against Russia, a top foreign policy priority, as well as demonstrate action on potential political weaknesses. are doing. Asylum on the US-Mexico border.
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Mr. Biden faces stiff resistance from conservatives over his request for $110 billion for wartime aid packages for Ukraine and Israel and other national security priorities. In the Senate, Republicans are pushing for a combination of border security changes and funding.
FOX News' Houston Keene and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
