Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Thursday declined to say exactly how many migrants detained crossing the U.S.-Mexico border between ports of entry have been released into the country under the Biden administration.
Mayorkas, however, claimed to “know the facts” during an interview with Fox News “Special Report” host Bret Baier, saying the figure is “well over a million.” [migrants] per year,” but did not offer a specific number.
“Customs and Border Protection sources say they are currently releasing more than 70% of the migrants crossing each day and sometimes more than that number. Would that surprise you? Baier asked the DHS chief.
“It shouldn’t. It wouldn’t surprise me at all,” Mayorkas responded.
“I know the data. And I will tell you that when individuals are released, they are released to undergo immigration enforcement procedures,” she added, stating that a “record number” of immigrants were “returned or expelled” last year.
House Republicans threaten to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the border crisis. Fox News
Mayorkas is under threat of impeachment by House Republicans, who accuse the Biden administration official of dereliction of duty in response to the ongoing immigration crisis.
The GOP-led House Homeland Security Committee announced plans Wednesday to hold a hearing on Jan. 10 to evaluate Mayorkas’ “failed leadership and refusal to enforce” immigration law.
Mayorkas promised not to resign if impeached.
“I lead 260 incredibly dedicated and talented men and women of the Department of Homeland Security. I will continue to guide you in advancing the mission of protecting the American people,” she told Baier.
When asked if he would be willing to accept an increase in congressional funding for border security on the condition that it be used only for the detention and removal of immigrants, Mayorkas said he would not.
Last year, U.S. authorities encountered nearly 2.5 million migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. AP
“The funds are needed to provide the Department of Homeland Security with more Border Patrol agents. The funds are needed to provide more technology to the Department of Homeland Security. The funds are necessary to provide our department with more detention space, to provide the Department of Justice with more immigration judges so that justice can be administered more quickly,” he argued.
Mayorkas also refused to take any blame for the historic number of immigrants entering the United States illegally, instead blaming “authoritarian regimes” and “extreme climate events.”
“This is something that is not specific to the southern border of the United States,” he said. “This is something we are seeing throughout the hemisphere and around the world. We have a rise in authoritarian regimes. We have more extreme weather events that are forcing people from their homes. “We have poverty and America is proving to be prosperous.”
During fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30, more than 2.47 million encounters with migrants were reported along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. .
Only about 142,000 noncitizens were deported to more than 180 countries around the world during the same period, according to the annual report from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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