Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the US-Mexico border is as secure as it can be but denied previous claims of admitting that over 85% of migrants apprehended are released into the US. He faces an impeachment trial for providing misleading testimony about border security and failing to enforce immigration law since President Biden took office. Over 9 million migrants have been apprehended, with more than 7.5 million encounters occurring on the southern border, excluding 1.8 million known “gotaways.”
Mayorkas was confirmed to have said in January that “higher than 85%” of migrants are later released into the US. This has led to a record-breaking backlog of more than 3 million court hearings for asylum seekers, with many not showing up for subsequent hearings after obtaining work permits. The failure to deport those who do not appear is seen as a dereliction of duty on Mayorkas’ part. Additionally, there have been instances of migrants with suspected ties to terrorism being released into the country.
During a budget hearing, Mayorkas was criticized for reducing beds in detention spaces for ICE and not fielding enough Border Patrol agents. Despite efforts by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to hold Mayorkas accountable through impeachment, Senate Democrats are expected to scuttle the trial. Mayorkas has been described as the worst cabinet secretary in US history, with the border crisis being deemed a catastrophe designed by the administration.
Democrats like Bennie Thompson reject the impeachment push as a partisan stunt, calling for the passage of a $118 billion bipartisan border security bill that Republicans rejected. The Senate legislation failed to gain enough procedural votes due to bipartisan opposition, with Republicans leading the charge against it and former President Trump criticizing it as a “great gift to the Democrats.” Despite ongoing challenges at the border, efforts to hold Mayorkas accountable through impeachment have faced opposition from Senate Democrats.
