Mayorkas calls migrant surge a 'significant challenge' when pressed to admit crisis

Asher Notheis

April 01, 05:43 PM April 01, 05:43 PM

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says he won't refer to the record number of illegal migrant crossings at the Mexican border as a "crisis," but rather as "a significant challenge."

Mayorkas said in an interview with 60 Minutes set to air Sunday that he would not refer to the current situation at the southern border as a crisis because he has "tremendous faith in the people of the Department of Homeland Security." The United States-Mexico border saw 1.7 million migrant encounters in the fiscal year 2021 and over 2.3 million in FY 2022, according to WHD News.

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"A crisis speaks to me of a withdrawal from our mission," Mayorkas said. "And we are only putting more force and more energy into it."

Mayorkas has been greatly criticized by Republicans for his handling of the southern border, with many in the GOP calling for his resignation or impeachment. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz testified at Congressional hearings last month that agents did not have "operational control" of the border.

"In five of those nine southwest border sectors, we have seen an increase in flow and that has caused a considerable strain on our resources and really has forced the Border Patrol to move so agents and even migrants to some of the other areas," Ortiz said.

Ortiz notably used the word "crisis" to describe the situation along the border. When Mayorkas was asked if he agreed with Ortiz, he claimed "we face a very serious challenge in parts of the border."

Mayorkas had a heated exchange with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) about the migrant surge at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, when the latter said the DHS chief had done a "disgraceful" job addressing the situation. Mayorkas responded by calling Cruz's words "revolting" before saying he would not address the senator's comments.

US in touch with families of Americans killed and kidnapped in Mexico, White House says

Katherine Doyle

March 08, 01:56 PM March 08, 01:56 PM

U.S. officials have been in touch with the families of Americans kidnapped in Mexico after two were found dead, the White House said.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Biden administration had spoken with the victims’ families but declined to say whether President Joe Biden had or whether he intended to do so.

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Four Americans went missing after crossing the southern border on a trip to Mexico for a medical procedure. Two were discovered killed on Tuesday and one was found injured and a fourth unharmed.

Jean-Pierre stressed that the United States would be “relentless in pursuing justice” in the case.

“We will do everything in our power to identify, find, and hold accountable the individuals responsible for this attack, and we continue to work in coordination with the Mexican government,” she added.

Jean-Pierre and national security spokesman John Kirby called the killings “unacceptable” on Tuesday.

White House says Biden has 'done the work' on securing the border

W. James Antle III

December 15, 05:58 PM December 15, 05:58 PM

The White House said Thursday that President Joe Biden has put in “the work” on securing the border, despite record illegal immigration for much of his term, and challenged congressional Republicans to do the same.

Republican operatives quickly mocked the comment. A migration surge began shortly after Biden took office and immigration is consistently one of the areas where he has some of his lowest job approval ratings.

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"The president has done the work to deal with what we are seeing at the border since day one,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at Thursday’s briefing.

Jean-Pierre added that the administration has done that work “on our own,” because congressional Republicans have not voted for their preferred immigration and government funding legislation.

The contention that Republicans are more interested in “political stunts” than securing the border or addressing immigration has become a common refrain in Jean-Pierre’s daily briefings.

“We know how to work with Republicans; Republicans know how to work with us,” she said on Tuesday. “So why don't they work with us on this particular issue that is important to — important to Americans across the country? And we're asking for them to join us on this.”

“One of the first things [Biden] did was put forth a comprehensive immigration reform, which included DACA, which included making sure we protect the border,” the president’s top spokeswoman said last week. “And he was very clear this was a priority for him.”

Federal authorities encountered 2.76 million people attempting to cross the border illegally in the last fiscal year.

On Monday, officials reported encountering 16,000 immigrants in just the last 48 hours.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas received a chilly reception from Border Patrol agents when he visited El Paso, Texas. The incoming House Republican majority has contemplated impeaching him.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been panned for her handling of the migration issue since it was added to her policy portfolio earlier during the administration.

Biden himself came under fire for a dismissive answer about visiting the border during a trip to Arizona.

"I don't know why they keep avoiding the border and saying there are other things more important than visiting the border," Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) complained.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) made a visit to the border in Biden's stead.

A WHD News poll earlier this month found that 61% disapproved of Biden’s performance on immigration and the border.

Pointing to migrant deaths, illegal border crossers who have gotten away, the flow of fentanyl into the country, and overwhelmed communities, the Republican National Committee’s Tommy Pigott said, “That is the ‘work’ Biden has done — not alone, but with the help of Democrats in Congress — and it has cost thousands of lives."

Bipartisan talks on an immigration overhaul stalled this week.

When the Republicans take over the House in January, the prospects of such legislation will grow dimmer, and key committees will hold hearings on Biden and the border.