U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said, Press conference Speaking on border security in Tucson, Arizona on Wednesday, he denied recent reports that more than 400 illegal immigrants had been smuggled into the United States illegally by a network linked to terrorist organizations.
During a press conference, Mayorkas told reporters that the Biden administration has no plans to increase the number of individuals processed through CBP One applications.
“The report is false.”
“The number of appointments allowed at CBP One is approximately 1,400 to 1,500 per day and is based on the capacity of the ports of entry. The ports of entry are outdated and also require funding to modernize.”
The secretary praised the Biden administration’s recent executive actions, which he said are already curbing illegal immigration. The Homeland Security Secretary also called on Congress to take action on the border, specifically by providing more funding for expanding law enforcement resources.
A reporter pressed Mayorkas about increasing reports of illegal immigrants committing violent crimes against Americans. She noted that one of the murder suspects was wearing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement ankle monitor at the time of the crime. The reporter was probably Franklin Jose Peña Ramosis a 26-year-old Venezuelan national living in the United States illegally, and is accused of luring, tying up, raping and strangling 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray on June 20.
“In your interview this morning, you said that the safety of the American people is your number one priority and that these individuals are being vetted,” the reporter said. “But in your conversations with the director of ICE, we heard the director of the FBI say that there are huge gaps in information. So what would you say to reassure the American people that they are, in fact, safe? And what would you say to the families who have lost loved ones because of these immigration crimes?”
Mayorkas responded: “Well, let’s start with the end of your story. My message to the families is, of course, our hearts are with them in light of their suffering.”
“The safety and security of the American people is truly our number one priority. We will screen and vet individuals as we encounter them,” he continued, “and then later in the process, if we learn of derogatory information, we will take enforcement action accordingly.”
Mayorkas shifted the blame for the rise in crimes committed by illegal immigrants amid the Biden administration’s open border crisis.
“Individuals responsible for heinous criminal acts are criminals,” he added.
The DHS Secretary was also asked about the recent report. NBC News It reported that 400 illegal immigrants had been smuggled into the US by an ISIS-linked network, and the whereabouts of more than 50 “persons of concern” remained unknown, the news agency said.
“The Department of Homeland Security has identified at least 400 migrants with possible ISIS ties who have recently entered the United States,” the reporter said.
“That’s wrong,” Mayorkas responded.
“Tell us why,” the reporter asked.
“That report is false,” Mayorkas insisted. “There are not 400 individuals with potential ties to ISIS. And I can again state categorically that any individual identified as having such ties would be a concern to us from a public safety and security standpoint, and they will be a priority for detention and deportation.”
The reporter asked Mayorkas to clarify whether the NBC News story was inaccurate.
“I think that’s inaccurate,” Mayorkas responded. “I want to be clear: accuracy is extremely important when stating facts.”
The reporter tried to ask another question, but Mayorkas cut him off.
“I’ve just answered your question. Let me be clear: accuracy in dealing with facts is very important,” he reiterated.
Mayorkas denied that the individuals were found to have ties to ISIS, but did not say whether the smuggling network that smuggled illegal immigrants into the U.S. had ties to the terrorist organization, as an NBC News report had alleged.
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