Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday regarding illegal immigration and border security.
Mayorkas said the U.S. immigration system is “fundamentally broken” and that “Congress must pass legislation to fix it.”
Here are the main takeaways, as reported by the Daily Signal:
1. In September, lawmakers and the media falsely accused Border Patrol agents of trying to whip Haitian refugees attempting to illegally cross the border in Texas. Photos circulated of the agents on horseback holding standard long reins used to control their mounts, which some incorrectly claimed were whips.
Mayorkas, Biden and Kamala Harris suggested wrongdoing and the Department of Homeland Security launched an investigation.
Sen. Mike Lee asked why Mayorkas has been silent since then.
“What about the issue of some of your Border Patrol agents recently being accused by some folks in the media of whipping illegal immigrants, when in fact they were not? Why on earth did you not defend them? Has no one in your entire department ever become aware of how someone uses split reins when riding a horse?”
“Number 1” Mayorkas replied, “I put 100% into my work and I'm incredibly proud to do so. Number 2, I stand with the men and women of our department through and through. I will not prejudge facts before…”
Lee interrupted to ask, “did you defend them when they were being attacked for whipping people, which they were not?”
“What I said quite clearly is that the independent investigation will determine the facts and those facts will drive the outcome,” Mayorkas said. “Nothing less and nothing more.”
2. In regards to the southern border influx, Sen. Lindsey Graham asked if Mayorkas believes the Biden immigration policies are successful.
“I think rebuilding a broken immigration system and rebuilding a dismantled one takes time, and we’re on the road to success.”
“How would you grade yourself?” Graham asked.
“I’m a tough grader on myself and I give myself an A for effort, investment in mission and support of our workforce,” Mayorkas replied.
3. Sen. Josh Hawley asked Mayorkas about interviewing Afghan refugees before they enter the country. Mayorkas said the DHS is “not conducting in-person, full refugee interviews of 100% of the individuals.
Hawley asked what percentage they are conducting, to which Mayorkas said he did not know.
“Of more than the 60,000 brought to the country, what number have received an in-person interview before they came to the country?” Hawley asked.
“When you are speaking of a full refugee-like interview, I don’t have that data,” Mayorkas said. “We have data in the Department of Homeland Security. You are asking me what data I have at my fingertips.”
4. Sen. Marsha Blackburn asked Mayorkas why the Biden administration stopped construction of the border wall but built one around Biden’s beach house.
“There are thousands of miles along the southern border,” he replied. “The key to border security is fundamentally advanced technology. That is the most effective means because we’re not going to construct a border wall on the ragged and jagged cliffs.
