Mayorkas to highlight decrease in border encounters during first border visit since impeachment vote.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is set to make a significant visit to Arizona on Wednesday, marking his first trip to the southern border since the Senate halted articles of impeachment against him. Mayorkas will be in Tucson, where he is expected to address reporters and highlight the notable decrease in illegal migrant numbers following President Biden’s executive actions on asylum processing three weeks ago. The Department of Homeland Security reports that arrests for illegal border crossings have plummeted by over 40% since the implementation of the executive order. Mayorkas expressed his satisfaction with the progress, calling it a “remarkable implementation” by immigration enforcement agencies.
In a recent interview, Mayorkas mentioned, “We are executing more removal flights than ever before. We are processing individuals swiftly through the system, with those who do not meet the criteria being promptly removed or returned.” These latest figures from Border Patrol are positive news for President Biden, who faces criticism from former President Trump at the upcoming CNN Presidential Debate.
The United States has experienced a surge in migrant crossings at the border, surpassing 2.4 million in FY 23 alone, alongside three consecutive years of record-high crossings. Republicans and Trump have been quick to blame Biden for the crisis, asserting that his policies, particularly the rollback of Trump-era policies, have exacerbated the situation. Trump, at a recent rally in Philadelphia, accused Biden of releasing illegal criminals into communities, leading to violent crimes.
In light of recent tragic events, such as the murder of a 12-year-old girl in Houston, Jocelyn Nungaray, Trump has intensified his criticism of Biden’s border policies. He pointed fingers at the suspects, alleging that they were illegal immigrants released into the country by Biden, who had claimed asylum due to threats in Venezuela. Trump has pledged to implement the largest domestic deportation operation if re-elected, aiming to overturn every Open Border policy put in place by the Biden administration and reinforce security at the border.
On the other hand, Biden advocates for comprehensive reforms to address the broken immigration system. He has proposed legislation, facing opposition from Republicans, that would offer a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Biden has also thrown support behind a bipartisan Senate bill, which, despite his efforts, has not gained traction within the Senate.
With congressional gridlock hindering progress, Biden has resorted to unilateral actions to curb asylum claims once daily border encounters exceed a certain threshold. He also announced protections against deportation for some illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. Mayorkas echoed Biden’s sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need for Congress to address the shortcomings in the current immigration system.
Despite facing articles of impeachment, Mayorkas retains his position as Homeland Security Secretary after the Senate ruled the articles unconstitutional and dismissed them without a trial. The ongoing debate on immigration policies and border security is expected to take center stage at the upcoming CNN Presidential Debate, where Biden and Trump will clash on their visions for the nation’s immigration landscape.
