Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security Secretary, has made a startling admission.
In a private conversation with Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, Mayorkas revealed that the current rate of illegal immigrant releases at the southern border exceeds 85%.
This revelation by Mayorkas, on the eve of his scheduled testimony at the House's first impeachment hearing concerning the immigration crisis, has stirred significant attention. The Homeland Security Secretary's comments, confirmed by three agents at the meeting, highlight the complexities and challenges facing the U.S. immigration system.
Mayorkas's remarks were made during a muster for agents in one of the busiest areas along the border. They followed his statement last week, where he acknowledged that over 70% of migrants are released into the U.S. daily. This rate of release, exceeding a million migrants annually, puts into perspective the scale of the ongoing immigration challenges.
The Secretary has attributed these releases to a lack of funding and the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform from Congress. In the face of these issues, Mayorkas is set to present his case at the upcoming House Homeland Security impeachment hearing. The hearing will notably include testimony from state attorneys general.
The White House has responded to the burgeoning crisis with a request for $14 billion in border funding, a proposal currently stalled in Congress. This financial impasse adds another layer to the already complex immigration scenario.
Republicans have pointed fingers at the Biden administration's policies, such as expanded parole and narrowed enforcement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as catalysts for the historic migrant crisis.
On the other hand, Mayorkas argues that it's the immigration system itself that serves as a magnet for migrants rather than specific administration policies.
Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, the administration has recently engaged in a legal battle with Texas over a state law that permits local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants. This move underscores the deepening divide between federal and state approaches to handling the immigration crisis.
Last week, Secretary Mayorkas elaborated on the situation in an interview. He emphasized the long duration between an individual's encounter at the border and the final ruling in their immigration case, often spanning over six years.
He stated:
What is a magnet is the fact that the time in between an encounter of an individual at the border and their final ruling in their immigration case can sometimes take six or more years. That is a magnet, which is precisely why I am working with Republicans and Democrats in the United States Senate to deliver a solution for the American people, to deliver a fix to an immigration system that everyone agrees is broken and that is long overdue.
Alejandro Mayorkas, the Homeland Security Secretary, has made a significant admission regarding the high rate of illegal immigrant releases at the U.S. southern border, exceeding 85%. This disclosure, made in a private conversation with Border Patrol agents in Eagle Pass, Texas, comes just before his testimony at the House's first impeachment hearing on the immigration crisis.
Mayorkas's comments, confirming the release of over a million migrants annually, underline the immense challenges facing the U.S. immigration system. He attributes this situation to insufficient funding and the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Meanwhile, the White House has sought $14 billion in border funding amidst this crisis, a request currently stalled in Congress.
The situation is further complicated by a legal battle with Texas over a state law allowing local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants, illustrating the tension between federal and state approaches to immigration.
