Joe Biden’s Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been coming under fire from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as the crisis at the southern border worsens by the day. One border-region Democrat has come to Mayorkas’ defense recently, however.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) represents the 16th Congressional District in Texas, which covers the city of El Paso. She appeared on CNN on Friday to heap praise on Mayorkas’ efforts on the border.
As illegal immigrants flood the southern border in record numbers, Democrat Rep. Veronica Escobar praises DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas — who claims the "border is secure" — for "doing absolutely everything he possibly can." pic.twitter.com/un8M8GjEvY
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 29, 2022
Escobar said Mayorkas “has been doing absolutely everything he possibly can.”
She added: “He’s been really a key leader on this, on helping communities like El Paso. But, you know, again, legislation, it’s going to take a multifaceted approach.”
Escobar called on Biden to “mobilize the State Department” in the same way she believes Mayorkas has mobilized Homeland Security. She said the situation at the border is a “Western hemispheric refugee crisis of historic proportions” and called on the State Department to engage in “far more diplomacy.”
Escobar’s district is part of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) El Paso Sector. CBP reports that it has already encountered more than 150,000 illegal migrants in the first three months of the fiscal year 2023, which began on October 1, 2022. In addition, the area has seen a surge in illegal migration in the last month in anticipation of the end of Title 42 enforcement.
The Title 42 public health order had been set to expire in December, according to an order from a federal district judge. However, the Supreme Court intervened and ordered Title 42 remain in place while the high court hears the case, with a final ruling expected by June.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has promised that the new House GOP majority being sworn in on January 3 will aggressively investigate Mayorkas for his part in the ongoing border immigration crisis.
McCarthy has been nominated by House Republicans to be the next Speaker to replace outgoing Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). However, his election by the next House is far from certain. He has been campaigning among fellow Republicans by promising that the House will go forward with impeaching Mayorkas following a thorough investigation if his colleagues pick him to be Speaker.
