Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas claimed that the number of crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border has declined by half since the end of the Title 42 immigration policy, despite recent crossings reaching an all-time high.
According to the Biden administration official, “the United States Border Patrol (CBP) has experienced a 50% drop in the number of encounters versus what we were experiencing earlier in the week before Title 42 ended at midnight on Thursday.”
Mayorkas’ comments carry some truth but appear very different when put into a fuller context.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) head said that the number of migrants crossing the border had fallen significantly from an all-time high at the start of last week
Biden's decision to end Title 42 has opened the floodgates.
Texas is holding the line and stopping illegal border crossings.
Without the Texas National Guard and DPS troopers I deployed, there would be nothing to deter illegal immigration. pic.twitter.com/mCrVVHbbYt
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 15, 2023
Last week, border officials reported three consecutive days with more than 10,000 migrant encounters, the highest level on record.
Following the initial surge, CBP reported 6,300 migrant crossings Friday and 4,200 Saturday.
President Joe Biden issued a similar tone recently, stating that the current situation at the border was better than expected.
Title 42 was enacted under former President Donald Trump in 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The measure allowed federal immigration officials to deport migrants more quickly.
The end of the program sparked considerable concern about a new flow of migrants, especially from Republicans in Congress. One estimate placed the number of potential new migrants entering the country at up to 13,000 per day.
In addition, the end of the program has led to migrants being given court dates to return well into the future. Fox News reported on a migrant from Venezuela being asked to return to court in 2026.
Mayorkas’ comments come as Republicans in Congress consider articles of impeachment against the secretary.
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) filed articles of impeachment against the cabinet member. Fallon said that Mayorkas’ “policies have undermined law enforcement activities at our southern border.”
He also accused the Homeland Security chief of “perjuring himself before Congress.”
Furthermore, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) called for the resignation of the controversial official last year.
